The use of online social networking and quality of life

Online social networking sites are an increasingly popular place for people to interact with families and friends, colleagues, business contacts and even meet new people to share interests, feelings and emotions at any time and across distance. However, the effects of frequent use of the online social networks on quality of life in student population are still limited. The aim of this study thus was to investigate the use of online social networks and its associations with university students' physiological, psychological and social health. Data results were obtained from 422 respondents using a questionnaire adapted from the “World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF)” questionnaire. Apart from WHOQOL-BREF survey tool, students were asked to provide the data for demographic characteristics and the use of online social networks. The study results found that the majority of the students participated in the Facebook (98%, n=417) and nearly half of the students spent 2-3 hours daily on the online social networking sites (49%, n=208). The students' participation of online social networks was significantly associated with the general health of students (r=0.26, p<;0.05) and psychological health (r=0.25, p<;0.05). However, the findings reported that online social networks did not affect the user's social health including satisfaction with social life, personal relationship and social supports. Overall the study results indicated that the frequent use of online social networks had improved both physiology and psychology health among the users. Yet, the use of online social networks did not encourage social supports to the university students.