Facebook problem users ‘avoiding intimacy by replicating real-life relationships online’ People who use Facebook inappropriately are more likely to have highly insecure real-life relationships, research suggests.

People who use Facebook inappropriately are more likely to have highly insecure real-life relationships, research suggests.

Women especially may use the social media network in “problematic ways” in an attempt to fulfil their attachment needs, especially if they have low self-esteem or when they experience high levels of psychological distress such as anxiety, stress, or depression, according to the study of more than 700 Facebook users published in BMC Psychology.

Researchers at the National University of Ireland, Galway, investigated possible links between attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety, such as avoiding intimacy and closeness in personal relationships or being overly dependent, and problematic patterns of Facebook use, such as compulsively looking at others’ photos, over-sharing personal information and using photo filters to present a positive self-image.

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Dr Sally Flynn, co-author of the study said: “Our findings suggest that Facebook may be used by some to fulfil fundamental attachment needs, especially for those with low self-esteem, who are experiencing psychological distress”.

Connected

The authors suggest that in individuals with attachment avoidance, “impression management” may allow them to keep connected to others, by creating a positive image of themselves, while concealing aspects of themselves which they fear may not be acceptable to others.

Dr Kiran Sarma, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at NUI Galway who co-authored the paper, said: “It is important to stress that the research does not suggest that there is something damaging about Facebook or other social media services – but rather, some people network on-line in ways that could be considered maladaptive, exacerbating distress and vulnerability”.

Peter Tyrer, professor of community psychiatry at Imperial College London, said: “This is an interesting study that shows very clearly that those who use Facebook inappropriately have anxiety in social relationships and low self-esteem. It is of interest that most are female. As the study is a cross-sectional one we have no idea whether the attachment anxiety is temporary or of long-standing, and we cannot determine the cause.

“The most likely explanation is that those with high attachment anxiety are more likely to use Facebook inappropriately but it is possible that excessive use of Facebook contributes to greater feelings of personal insecurity. This can only be determined by longitudinal studies.”