What is it about?
Excessive reassurance seeking and insecure attachment are known risk factors for depression. However, with the digitization of relationships through social media, it is unclear how these interpersonal vulnerabilities correspond to an online context. Our study assessed relations between Facebook reassurance seeking (i.e., tendency to excessively seek assurances that one is lovable and worthy) and depression, as well as the role of attachment anxiety (e.g., fear of abandonment, strong desire for closeness) in this relation. Using a sample of undergraduate students, we found that Facebook reassurance seeking was not associated with depression. However, for those higher in attachment anxiety, more Facebook reassurance seeking was related to lessened depressive symptoms. Findings indicate that reassurance seeking in the form of seeking “likes” or comments on Facebook may not be as harmful as offline reassurance seeking, and may even benefit certain groups.
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Why is it important?
Understanding the potential risks associated with Facebook is critical in a time where social networking has become the norm. Not only do more than half of North Americans subscribe to Facebook, but three quarters of those on Facebook will access the platform daily. Facebook use has seemingly revolutionized the way that humans are interacting. Overall, our findings demonstrated that the increased levels of social communication on Facebook might be beneficial for those with greater attachment needs. It is, however, plausible that our measure of Facebook reassurance seeking did not capture "excessive" or harmful types of reassurance seeking. For example, unlike general measures of excessive reassurance seeking, our measure did not capture the intention (e.g., to feel worthy) nor the social consequences of their behaviour, which may have important implications.
Perspectives
It is our hope that we provide readers with a deeper understanding of the potential benefits of Facebook and social networking sites. According to our findings, posting photos and statuses to receive “likes” and comments is not associated with depression in the way that offline reassurance seeking is, and may even be beneficial for some.
Rachel Plouffe
Western University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Do you “like” me? The roles of Facebook reassurance seeking and attachment style on depression., Psychology of Popular Media, April 2021, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/ppm0000312.
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