Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Motives for maintaining personal journal blogs
1School of Communication Studies, Kent State University at Stark, 6000 Frank Ave., N.W., North Canton, OH 44720, USA. ehollen2@kent.edu
Abstract:
Although much has been learned about political and news blogs, there has been a lack of research on personal journal blogs. They deserve further research attention because of the implications blogs have in many bloggers' immediate social networks, as well as the opportunities for scientific inquiry in a rich and evolving communication environment. This study explored bloggers' motives for maintaining personal journal blogs, or blogs that resemble diaries about one's personal life. Stemming from the uses and gratifications perspective, antecedents (age, sex, loneliness, disclosiveness) and blogging motives composed a model for predicting the amount of blog use. Seven motives emerged from online survey data: helping/informing, social connection, pass time, exhibitionism, archiving/organizing, professionalism, and get feedback. Age, sex, loneliness, and disclosiveness predicted different motives, and the total model (age, sex, loneliness, disclosiveness, and motives) was useful for explaining 13% of the variance in the amount of blog use.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Journal Bearings
To better understand the concept of journal bearings, consider a rope winch with dry or...
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Strategies of Self-Presentation III: Self-Monitoring

