International Journal of Research Studies in Psychology December 2012 - Special Issue on Positive Psychology, Volume 1 Number 3, 59-67

The mediating effect of relatedness on Facebook use and self-esteem
Abellera, Nadine Angeli C.
Department of Psychology, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines (nacabellera@gmail.com) ISSN: 2243-7781 Online ISSN: 2243-779X

Ouano, Jerome A.
Department of Psychology, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines (ouano_j@yahoo.com)

Conway, Gail D.
Department of Psychology, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines (gee.delapaz@yahoo.com)

Camilotes, Liza Mae C.
Department of Psychology, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines (lizamaec@gmail.com)

Doctor, Hannah Mae L.
Department of Psychology, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines (misshannahdoctor@yahoo.com) Received: 10 November 2012 Available Online: 30 December 2012 Revised: 15 December 2012 DOI: 10.5861/ijrsp.2012.298 Accepted: 22 December 2012

Abstract Facebook, a popular social networking site, can serve as a venue for the enhancement of self-esteem. Why this happens remains unclear. Drawing from Positive Psychology and Self-Determination Theory, the present study investigated the effect of Facebook use on self-esteem as mediated by relatedness. Employing a cross-sectional non-experimental design, the mediation hypothesis was tested among 467 college students who agreed to answer the questionnaires. From the results of multiple hierarchical regressions, it was found out that Facebook use did not have a direct effect on self-esteem, but exerted a positive direct effect on relatedness. Likewise, related was positively associated with self-esteem. The mediation effect of relatedness was examined using Sobel test, and the results supported the