STUDY: Envy of Friends, Family Can Make Facebook Use Depressing

University of Houston researcher Mai-Ly Steers found that some Facebook users find themselves comparing their lives with the activities and accomplishments of their friends and family on the social network.

DepressedManLaptopAll of these studies suggesting that Facebook use causes depression, are, well, depressing.

The latest comes from University of Houston researcher Mai-Ly Steers, who found after conducting two separate studies that some Facebook users find themselves comparing their lives with the activities and accomplishments of their friends and family on the social network.

The first study found an association between time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms for both genders, while the second concluded that the relationship between the amount of time spent on the social network and depressive symptoms was mediated by social comparisons on Facebook.

Steers said in a release announcing her findings:

Although social comparison processes have been examined at length in traditional contexts, the literature is only beginning to explore social comparisons in online social networking settings.

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