Hayes, Jessica Anne (2022) Need to Belong and Social Media Use: The impact on Psychological Distress and Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Since the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic began in 2019, over 516 million cases globally and six million cases in Australia have been reported. In order to reduce virus transmission, face-to-face social interactions were restricted, however, increased loneliness and psychological distress have been reported (Cudjoe & Kotwal, 2020). The aim of the current research was to examine whether the need to belong and social media use has an influence on psychological distress and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The methodology was cross-sectional with a sample of 453 adults (52% men and 48% female) aged from 18 to 74 years (Mage = 34.00 years; SD = 11.70). Participants completed an online or paper format survey via online platforms or the general community (undergraduate psychology students). The survey included measures of need to belong (Need to Belong scale), social media use (Social Networking Sites Usage and Needs scale), psychological distress (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale), and loneliness (Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults). In line with hypotheses, results indicated that a greater need to belong predicted greater social media use (b = .25, p <.001), higher levels of psychological distress (b = .31, p <.001) and loneliness (b = .13, p =.008). Inconsistent with the hypotheses, social media use predicted higher levels of psychological distress (b = .21, p <.001) and did not predict loneliness (b = .01, p =.760). In line with hypotheses, social media use partially mediated the relationship between the need to belong and psychological distress (b = 0.13, 95% CI [0.06, 0.21]), but not in the expected direction with increased social media use, psychological distress increased. Further, inconsistent with hypotheses, social media use did not mediate the relationship between need to belong and loneliness (b = 0.01). Understanding the psychological mechanisms underpinning the relationship between the need to belong and psychological distress and loneliness is an important direction for future research.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Carla Jeffries |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 30 May 2025 01:43 |
| Last Modified: | 30 May 2025 01:43 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | social media use; COVID-19; psychological distress; loneliness; need to belong |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52400 |
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