The study was designed to explore the relationship between Facebook addiction narcissism and self-esteem. Correlation analysis was run to test the first two hypothesis and results revealed that a significant positive relationship existed between Facebook addiction and narcissism. Results also supported the second hypothesis and revealed that Facebook addiction was negatively correlated with self-esteem. However, results of the present study are not supported by literature for the third hypothesis showing gender as having no effect on the studied variables.
Our results are consistent with earlier studies suggesting that Facebook addiction and narcissism are positively correlated. One study said people who are narcissistic use Facebook in a self-promoting way which can be identified by others. A personality questionnaire was given to almost 130 Facebook users and the data was interpreted.3 It found correlation between narcissism and Facebook addiction. Beautiful and self-promoting profile pictures were used by people with narcissistic personality.
Results of the present study are also consistent with a recent study on the effect of two socially disruptive elements of narcissism (grandiose exhibitionism and entitlement exhibitionism) on specific pattern of Facebook behaviours. With few exceptions, the results of that study were consistent with its hypotheses. It was also found that self-esteem was negatively related with the studied narcissistic behaviours.6
Another study showed that Facebook users were not narcissistic.4 A survey was conducted on 233 college students to predict whether the narcissistic personality is developed because of excessive use of social media sites or not. Results showed that people use Facebook and other social media sites to inflate their ego via sharing their photos and stories in their friends' circle as in person.4 Results of the present study are contrary to such results.
Another objective of the present study was to explore the relationship between Facebook addiction and self-esteem. Results indicated that the two were negatively correlated. A recent study also found a negative correlation between Facebook addiction and self-esteem.6
Facebook can enhance 'social self-esteem'.14 Facebook may provide opportunities to people with low self-esteem which helps to improve their self-esteem.15 A study concluded that teenagers were more willing to compromise their health, social life and studies for the sake of fun and entertainment or whatever satisfaction they get after using Facebook.16 Although there are many benefits of SNSs, but addiction can ruin the future of teenagers. Moreover, many psychological problems have also been reported due to SNS addiction.17 Participants with lower self-esteem had correlation with greater amount of time spent on Facebook. It is also believed that Facebook use is motivated by the need of belongingness and the need of self-presentation.17 All these studies support the results of the present study which argued that people with low self-esteem spend more time on Facebook and they have more chances to be addict of social networking sites.
The generalisability of findings of the current study is limited because the sample was only limited to the students of a single university, and, as such, was not representative of the general population. Facebook is being used all over the world and across all demographics.1 Replication of this study with other groups and variables is important. Perhaps in other cultures, narcissism expresses differently on Facebook addiction. Furthermore, socioeconomic status, education, and birth order of students were not taken into account. Future studies should include all such factors as well.