Feelings of Loneliness and Sense of Community among Online Social Network Users

Research suggests that use of online social networking sites (SNS) can have positive and negative effects on users. The way that individuals use SNS may impact the extent to which users experience positive or negative effects from SNS. The current study examined whether the frequency of SNS usage, SNS engagement behavior, and the number of SNS are associated with feelings of loneliness and sense of community. This secondary analysis used baseline data from a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of sedentary dog owners. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to understand how the frequency of SNS usage, SNS engagement behavior, and the number of SNS are associated with loneliness and sense of community. Moderated mediation models were estimated to explore whether engagement behavior mediates the relationship between frequency of SNS usage and loneliness or sense of community, and whether this mediation model is further moderated by frequency of SNS usage. Active engagement behavior was associated with sense of community: p=0.038, but not loneliness. Frequency of SNS usage, passive engagement behavior, and number of SNS were not associated with loneliness or sense of community. No significant mediated or moderated mediation results were observed. The manner in which people engage others on SNS, and not the frequency or number of SNS, may have a greater influence on whether or not adult SNS users receive benefits from SNS. Our findings suggest that active engagement behavior is an important factor in SNS users' sense of community. Whether strategies to promote active engagement on SNS could be implemented to promote well-being deserves further study.