The reciprocal effects of social network site use and the disposition for self-disclosure: A longitudinal study

  • Authors:

  • Sabine Trepte;Leonard Reinecke

  • Affiliations:

  • University of Hamburg, Department of Psychology, Institute of Social Psychology, Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg, Germany;Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Department of Communication, Colonel-Kleinmann-Weg 2, 55128 Mainz, Germany

  • Venue:
  • Computers in Human Behavior
  • Year:
  • 2013

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Abstract

Since the advent of social network sites (SNSs), scholars have critically discussed the psychological and societal implication of online self-disclosure. Does Facebook change our willingness to disclose personal information? The present study proposes that the use of SNSs and the psychological disposition for self-disclosure interact reciprocally: Individuals with a stronger disposition show a higher tendency to use SNSs (selection effect). At the same time, frequent SNS use increases the wish to self-disclose online, because self-disclosing behaviors are reinforced through social capital within the SNS environment (socialization effect). In a longitudinal panel study, 488 users of SNSs were surveyed twice in a 6months interval. Data were analyzed using structure equation modeling. The proposed reciprocal effects of SNS activities and self-disclosure were supported by the data: The disposition for online self-disclosure had a positive longitudinal effect on SNS use which in turn positively influenced the disposition for online self-disclosure. Both effects were moderated by the amount of social capital users received as a consequence of their SNS use.