The researchers, who conducted the study in 2015, attempted to measure the relationship between social anxiety and Facebook use.
The study, Hooked on Facebook: The Role of Social Anxiety and Need for Social Assurance in Problematic Use of Facebook, was conducted by Roselyn J. Lee-Won, PhD, Leo Herzog, BA and Sung Gwan Park, PhD.
They used students at a four-year college in the Midwestern United States.
All of the participants had a Facebook account.
They were measured on a social anxiety scale and for NSA - Need for social assurance.
Social skill model
The social skill model points toward one's need for self-presentation and it's role in one's life.
Since interactions online involve just text, the researchers hypothesized those with poor social skills would prefer to interact with people online.
For them, online interaction is easier than face-to-face conversations.
These people have social anxiety, which is apprehension surrounding one's self-image.
This arises from low self-esteem.
Therefore, those with low self-esteem would relish Facebook's ability to procure a custom image of oneself.
The role of need for social assurance
It's human nature for people to feel a sense of belongingness.
On Facebook, social interaction, and in turn feelings of connectivity, are easy to come by.
Users can write on friends' walls, and engage in chats with those that are online.
The researchers hypothesized that those with high needs to sustain feelings of security would be more involved with Facebook.
Results
The researches found a positive correlation between social anxiety and Facebook use.
This correlation was found more often in those with high NSA, which was the degree to which one uses Facebook to interact with others.
NSA was found to be more prevalent among adolescents and young adults.
It's influence became less pressing with age.
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