Reduction of Facebook use longitudinally increased life satisfaction, enhanced the level of physical activity, & reduced depressive symptoms and smoking behavior

Less Facebook use – More well-being and a healthier lifestyle? An experimental intervention study. Julia Brailovskaia et al. Computers in Human Behavior, March 6 2020, 106332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106332

Highlights
• Experimental reduction of Facebook use longitudinally increased life satisfaction.
• Reduction of Facebook use longitudinally enhanced the level of physical activity.
• Reduction of Facebook use longitudinally reduced depressive symptoms and smoking behavior.
• Less time spent on Facebook leads to more well-being and a healthier lifestyle.

Abstract: Use of the social platform Facebook belongs to daily life, but may impair subjective well-being. The present experimental study investigated the potential beneficial impact of reduction of daily Facebook use. Participants were Facebook users from Germany. While the experimental group (N = 140; Mage(SDage) = 24.15 (5.06)) reduced its Facebook use for 20 min daily for two weeks, the control group (N = 146; Mage(SDage) = 25.39 (6.69)) used Facebook as usual. Variables of Facebook use, life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, physical activity and smoking behavior were assessed via online surveys at five measurement time points (pre-measurement, day 0 = T1; between-measurement, day 7 = T2; post-measurement, day 15 = T3; follow-up 1, one month after post-measurement = T4; follow-up 2, three months after post-measurement = T5). The intervention reduced active and passive Facebook use, Facebook use intensity, and the level of Facebook Addiction Disorder. Life satisfaction significantly increased, and depressive symptoms significantly decreased. Moreover, frequency of physical activity such as jogging or cycling significantly increased, and number of daily smoked cigarettes decreased. Effects remained stable during follow-up (three months). Thus, less time spent on Facebook leads to more well-being and a healthier lifestyle.