Abstract

DIAS, Paulo César; GARCIA DEL CASTILLO, José António  and  GARCIA DEL CASTILLO-LOPEZ, Álvaro. Predictors of Facebook use among Portugueseadolescents: Contributes of an exploratory study. Act.Psi [online]. 2017, vol.31, n.123, pp.32-43. ISSN 2215-3535.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/ap.v31i123.27450.

The widespread use of social networks has brought opportunities and constraints at the same time, even faster than research and knowledge on this topic. In this paper, we intend to explore the role of personal and psychosocial variables in Facebook use, considering a set of self-report questionnaires to a sample of 386 Portuguese adolescents. We found gender differences in social network use, a positive relationship with age, self-regulation and self-esteem, with peer interaction with offline contacts as the strongest predictor for social network use. These data suggest the role of this application as a mean to maintain contact with peers.

Keywords : Facebook use; adolescents; self-esteem; self-regulation; peers.

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