Engl. transl.: Social Support in the Internet Age: Relationships between Stressors, Problem Behaviors, and Computer-Mediated Social Support in Adolescents.

The exponential growth of social networking sites, and in particular the considerable time that young people spend on Facebook, have raised the question whether the use of Facebook could have an impact on the well-being of young people. This question is not answered unanimously positively or negatively. In the academic debate, too, the question remains whether social networking sites, such as Facebook, are positive or negative for the well-being of young people, provoking conflicting reactions and findings. In part, these contradictions stem from an incomplete understanding of how Facebook use could affect youth well-being and who, in particular, would be susceptible to such influence. This PhD aims to contribute to the scientific answer to this question in two ways, filling an important gap: 1) by examining the processes that explain the impact of Facebook use on the well-being of young people and 2) by examining the conditions. studies under which this influence occurs. We used a differentiated and integrated approach. On the one hand, we distinguish different types of Facebook use, instead of focusing on general Facebook use. On the other hand, we integrate various theoretical frameworks, instead of relying on a monotheoretical approach. In this way, we arrive at a more nuanced insight into, and a better theoretical understanding of, the relationship between Facebook use and the well-being of young people. To answer the research questions of this doctorate, 1 102 adolescents (12-18 years) from Flemish education were surveyed using paper questionnaires. Questioning them at three time points allowed both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyzes.