Master of Arts (Applied Psychology)

Singapore, one of the most connected nations in Asia in terms of telecommunications and Internet use, also has one of the highest percentages (64%) of youths using Facebook in the region. However, research on the patterns and impact of Facebook use amongst Singaporean youths are scarce. This dissertation studied the psychosocial factors (self-regulation, impulsivity, sensation seeking, emotional awareness, emotional regulation, self-efficacy, empathy, social competence, loneliness, shyness, social anxiety, autonomy satisfaction, competence satisfaction and relatedness satisfaction) impacting Facebook use amongst Singaporean youths. Further, it also studied the above variables to identify the protective factors which help adolescents lower their use of Facebook, as well as the risk factors which impact high Facebook use amongst the teenagers. A total of 886 students from primary and secondary schools in Singapore participated in this study, in which the students completed an online survey in their school computer laboratories. Results indicated a high correlation between high self-regulation and less frequent Facebook use supporting the hypothesis that self-regulation is a protective factor against frequent Facebook use. Shyness was correlated with less time spent on Facebook and thus was found to also be a protective factor. Social anxiety, Impulsivity, and Sensation Seeking, were positively related to Facebook use and hence were identified as risk factors contributing towards frequent Facebook use.