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Predictors of honesty, intent, and valence of Facebook self-disclosure

Published: 01 September 2015 Publication History

Abstract

Uses and gratifications theory was applied to self-disclosures.Motives, social and individual characteristics predicted disclosive behaviors.Relationship maintenance positively predicted all three dimensions of disclosure.Virtual community negatively predicted all three dimensions of disclosure.Exhibitionism was related to disclosing positive, dishonest information. This study applies the uses and gratifications theory (U&G) to examine self-disclosive behavior on Facebook. Using a convenience sample of 301 Facebook users, path analyses were conducted to determine how individual factors, social cohesion, and motives affect the honesty, valence, and intent of self-disclosure. Results showed that U&G provided a useful model for exploring the relationships among study variables. Facebook users motivated by relationship maintenance were generally more honest, intentional, and positive than others. Higher self-esteem was related to more positive self-disclosure, as well. Conversely, participants motivated to use Facebook for virtual community and companionship disclosed the most dishonest, unintentional, and negative information. These and other direct and indirect predictors of self-disclosure are discussed in light of the existing literature on Facebook self-disclosure.

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  • (2024)Motives and Risks of Self-Disclosure to Robots versus HumansACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction10.1145/370088714:1(1-44)Online publication date: 18-Oct-2024
  • (2016)Self-disclosure, Privacy concerns and Social Capital benefits interaction in FBProceedings of the 20th Pan-Hellenic Conference on Informatics10.1145/3003733.3003781(1-6)Online publication date: 10-Nov-2016
  • (2016)Fraping, social norms and online representations of selfComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2016.05.04263:C(125-131)Online publication date: 1-Oct-2016

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Published In

cover image Computers in Human Behavior
Computers in Human Behavior  Volume 50, Issue C
September 2015
626 pages

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Elsevier Science Publishers B. V.

Netherlands

Publication History

Published: 01 September 2015

Author Tags

  1. Computer-mediated communication
  2. Facebook
  3. Motives
  4. Self-disclosure
  5. Social media
  6. Uses and gratifications

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View all
  • (2024)Motives and Risks of Self-Disclosure to Robots versus HumansACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction10.1145/370088714:1(1-44)Online publication date: 18-Oct-2024
  • (2016)Self-disclosure, Privacy concerns and Social Capital benefits interaction in FBProceedings of the 20th Pan-Hellenic Conference on Informatics10.1145/3003733.3003781(1-6)Online publication date: 10-Nov-2016
  • (2016)Fraping, social norms and online representations of selfComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2016.05.04263:C(125-131)Online publication date: 1-Oct-2016

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