Social Functions of Gossip on Facebook and Students’ Academic Self-Efficacy and Well-Being: Moderating Effect of Intensity of Use on Facebook

Abstract

This study applies four functions of the social functions of gossip; including information entertainment influence and friendship to examine how these functions affect the academic self-efficacy and well-being of students when they gossip on Facebook In addition the moderating effect of intensity (number of hours spent daily on Facebook and henceforth “intensity”) on Facebook is used to explore the relationships between the social functions of gossip and academic self-efficacy as well as the social functions of gossip and the well-being of students in universities in Taiwan The results show that information functions have a positive relationship with academic self-efficacy Similarly the influence functions have a positive relationship with well-being However the moderating effect (intensity) on Facebook has a negative impact on the relationships between the social functions of gossip and academic self-efficacy as well as the social functions of gossip and well-being In more detail the degree of intensity on Facebook has a specific amount of impact on the relationships between information function and academic self-efficacy: the entertainment function and well-being This study contributes to the development of the social functions of gossip and it is likewise very useful for research on psychological factors attitudes as well as the behavior of students when they join in gossiping activities on Facebook In addition the main purpose of this study is to lead students to participate in Facebook in a positive way Implications and limitations discussed in this study

Date of Award	2017 Jan 6
Original language	English
Supervisor	Li-Fang Chou (Supervisor)