Suggestibility, Facebook use and relationship with substance addictive behaviors

Several health issues related to the us of social networking sites (SNS) are documented. One concept that is not clearly studied is suggestibility as the tendency of a person to accept and internalize communication. The aim of the study is to test a model in which suggestibility of people can predict SNS use, which in turn can predict substance use.

Participants answered a questionnaire measuring suggestibility, alcohol consumption, dependence to nicotine and Facebook use. Linear regression and a structural equation model (SEM) were carried out to assess which utilization of Facebook variables explained best the level of alcohol consumption or nicotine dependence and to assess how suggestibility predicted Facebook use.

Linear regression analyses indicate that only the number of friends on Facebook is a predictor of the level of alcohol consumption (P<0.001). Suggestibility predict the frequency of Facebook use (P<0.001) and of the number of friends on Facebook (P=0.022). The SEM demonstrates that participants with a higher level of suggestibility have more friends on the SNS, which can influence substance consumption.

Individuals' level of suggestibility affects Facebook use. People with a higher level of suggestibility are more likely to have many friends on the SNS resulting in a possible environmental influence on substance use.