Abstract
Facebook’s Gross National Happiness (FGNH) indexes the positive and negative words used in the millions of status updates
submitted daily by Facebook users. FGNH has face validity: it shows a weekly cycle and increases on national holidays. Also,
happier individuals use more positive words and fewer negative words in their status updates (Kramer 2010). We examined the validity of FGNH in measuring mood and well-being by comparing it with scores on Diener’s Satisfaction
with Life Scale (SWLS), administered to an average of 34 Facebook users every day for a year, then aggregated by day, week,
month, quarter and half year. FGNH and SWLS were not significantly correlated, with a negative correlation coefficient. Also,
aggregated SWLS scores showed a positive relationship with numbers of negative words in status updates. We conclude that FGNH
is a valid measure for neither mood nor well-being; however, it may play a role in mood regulation. This challenges the assumption
that linguistic analysis of internet messages is related to underlying psychological states.
submitted daily by Facebook users. FGNH has face validity: it shows a weekly cycle and increases on national holidays. Also,
happier individuals use more positive words and fewer negative words in their status updates (Kramer 2010). We examined the validity of FGNH in measuring mood and well-being by comparing it with scores on Diener’s Satisfaction
with Life Scale (SWLS), administered to an average of 34 Facebook users every day for a year, then aggregated by day, week,
month, quarter and half year. FGNH and SWLS were not significantly correlated, with a negative correlation coefficient. Also,
aggregated SWLS scores showed a positive relationship with numbers of negative words in status updates. We conclude that FGNH
is a valid measure for neither mood nor well-being; however, it may play a role in mood regulation. This challenges the assumption
that linguistic analysis of internet messages is related to underlying psychological states.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s11205-012-9996-9
- Authors
- N. Wang, Psychometrics Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- M. Kosinski, Psychometrics Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- D. J. Stillwell, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
- J. Rust, Psychometrics Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Journal Social Indicators Research
- Online ISSN 1573-0921
- Print ISSN 0303-8300