Why Individuals Engage in Public Displays of Affection on Facebook
Date
2014
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Producer
Director
Performer
Choreographer
Costume Designer
Music
Videographer
Lighting Designer
Set Designer
Crew Member
Funder
Rehearsal Director
Concert Coordinator
Advisor
Moderator
Panelist
Alternative Title
Department
Haverford College. Department of Psychology
Type
Thesis
Original Format
Running Time
File Format
Place of Publication
Date Span
Copyright Date
Award
Language
eng
Note
Table of Contents
Terms of Use
Rights Holder
Access Restrictions
Haverford users only
Terms of Use
Tripod URL
Identifier
Abstract
This study examined the presence of relationships on Facebook.com with a specific focus on why people participate in public displays of affection (PDA). Four hundred and eighty-eight participants who were both in relationships and active Facebook users were recruited online to complete self-report measures. Six personality and relational variables were measured (anxious attachment, secure attachment, satisfaction, commitment, self-esteem, social desirability) as well as six motivations people have for engaging in PDA (control of partner’s image, assuring partner, self-assurance, self-verification, openness, and social verification). All of these factors were hypothesized to be predictors of Facebook public displays of affection. The study hypothesized six different mediated affects that consist of a relational/personality independent variable predicting the dependent variable of Facebook PDA, mediated by a motivational factor. The majority of hypotheses were supported: anxiety mediated by control of partner’s image, anxiety mediated by assuring one’s partner, self-esteem mediated by openness, and social desirability mediated by social verification. Additionally, when the independent variables and mediators were examined simultaneously, three motivations were found to significantly predict Facebook PDA: self-verification, openness, and partner assurances. This study provides explanations as to why people post publicly about their romantic relationships on Facebook and how they go about doing it.