Relationship between Facebook Usage and Self-Efficacy among Collegiate Athletes

This research investigates the relationship between Facebook usage and self-efficacy in collegiate athletes. The sample for this study are St. Thomas University athletes in the United States. The variables used to represent Facebook usage, Facebook frequency of use, Facebook number of friends, and Facebook frequency status updates are measured using Facebook Intensity Scale (Ellison, Steinfield, & Lampe, 2007). The dependent variable used in this study is self-efficacy which is measured using the General Self-efficacy (GSE) developed by Jerusalem and Schwarzer (1995). Data analyses indicate a statistically significant relationship between the number of Facebook friends and self-efficacy. The data also indicates a significant inverse relationship between Facebook frequency status updates and self-efficacy. The results of the correlation analysis indicate inverse relationships between frequency status updates and frequency of use, and frequency status updates and Facebook number of friends.  These findings suggest that once the coaches, administrators, and professors attend to the issue of Facebook usage for collegiate athletes, it may enhance self-efficacy and psychological benefits.