"Exploring social connectedness among Filipino Facebook users" by Yayetta C. de la Peña

Exploring social connectedness among Filipino Facebook users

Date of Publication

5-2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology

Subject Categories

Social Media | Social Psychology

College

Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC College of Education

Department/Unit

Counseling and Educational Psychology

Thesis Adviser

Jose Alberto S. Reyes

Defense Panel Chair

Aimee T. Guarino

Defense Panel Member

Jerome A. Ouano
Leo J. Capeding
Washington C. Garcia
Diane Marie U. Consolacion

Abstract/Summary

The study explored the social connectedness experience of Filipino Facebook users when engaging on Facebook. An exploratory sequential mixed method design was used which consisted of a qualitative phase that was followed by a quantitative phase. The qualitative phase examined the elements of social connectedness, the instigating factors for Facebook engagement and its perceived consequences. Interview data was collected from 50 Filipino Facebook users from ages 18 to 48 years. Results showed that Facebook users experienced perceived social and emotional support from positive responses to messages or contents they posted online. Facebook users also gave social and emotional support by reciprocating responses from friends, or by positively responding to friends’ posts. Contents or messages posted online were usually positively-themed. Gaining access to social and emotional support was a significant instigator for Facebook engagement along with hedonic and utilitarian motivations. Moreover, Facebook engagement can yield satisfying outcomes such as social and emotional support, gratifying experiences, and achievement of utilitarian expectations. However, it can also lead to unsatisfying outcomes such as loss of privacy, distraction from task completion, envy, and stifled self-expression. From the qualitative findings, hypotheses were developed and tested using two quantitative studies. In the first quantitative study it was hypothesized that younger Facebook users, compared to older Facebook users, click “like” more because of who posted (messenger) rather than what was posted (message). To test the hypothesis, a survey was conducted among 100 Filipino Facebook users from ages 18 to 67 years. Results showed that younger Facebook users tend to “like” a post because of who posted the message rather than the content of the post. The second quantitative study tested the hypothesis that the type of comment and number of “likes” received influence feelings of happiness. A 2x2 between-subjects Factorial design was used to test the hypothesis among 124 participants. Results showed a significant interaction between type of comment and number of “likes.” The number of “likes” mattered only when there was a negative comment. A high number of “likes” increased happiness than low number of “likes.” When comments were positive, ratings on happiness were similarly high regardless of the number of “likes.” Implications to the Facebook engagement among Filipinos and to the counseling practice were discussed.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Accession Number

CDTG008224

Keywords

Social media; Social networks—Psychological aspects; Facebook (Electronic resource); Social media—Influence

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Embargo Period

3-9-2025

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