RELAX AND LOG ON FACEBOOK: EXAMINING STUDENTS’ USE OF FACEBOOK TO RELIEVE ACADEMIC STRESS THROUGH PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT

College students often times experience academic stress, whether it is due to homework, exams, GPA requirement, or even adapting to the college environment. Social support has been known to reduce stress levels and affect psychological well-being. Social support can also be prevalent on social media sites, such as Facebook. Facebook users can communicate with friends near and far and find the needed support during times of stress. While college students are active Facebook users, little research has examined whether Facebook affects academic stress levels. This study examined if college students use Facebook to gain social support for stress above and beyond psychological uses. Survey results found that escape, relaxation, and social support were inversely associated with academic stress. This suggests that Facebook provides an effective means of dealing with academic stress among college students