Relationships between social network usage motivations, information overload and psychological outcomes: Multi-method analysis

This thesis investigates the relationship between Instagram use motivations, perceived information overload and Instagram use and users' life satisfaction. In addition, the moderating effect of gender on these relationships is examined. Within the scope of the research, a systematic literature review was conducted and the importance of the research was emphasized by mentioning the leading studies in the relevant literature within the framework of our findings. The study used two different research methods together within the framework of multi-method analysis. The first one, the scanning method, analyzed the data obtained from active Instagram users (pilot N= 100, main N=403) in two different data collection processes as pilot and main study through an online survey using by Structural Equation Modeling. Secondly, the scales related to the variables were researched by expert opinion method (N=8) and the results were analyzed by Fuzzy Dematel method. Based on the results of the screening method, Instagram use was found to be negatively related to life satisfaction, but not to perceived information overload. In addition, there was no significant relationship between perceived information overload and life satisfaction. In addition, seeking convenience and entertainment motivations are positively related to users' Instagram use. Gender was found to have a moderating role on the relationship between Instagram use and life satisfaction. Similarly, gender has a moderating role in the relationship between social support seeking and information seeking motivations with life satisfaction and in the relationship between convenience motivation and perceived information overload. On the other hand, Instagram use and its motivations are not related with perceived information overload in any way. As a result of the expert opinion method, friends, social support, entertainment seeking and convenience were found to be positively associated with Instagram use. Consequently, although there were differences between the results of screening and expert opinion methods, similarities were found to be more similar. This study contributes to the literature with one of the pioneering studies examining the direct relationship of social network motivations, especially Instagram, with social network use, as well as the relationship of motivations with life satisfaction and perceived information overload. Moreover, it is one of the few studies, in which the relationship between Instagram use, perceived information overload, and social network motivations and life satisfaction are addressed in a holistic manner. By providing an up-to-date and comprehensive systematic review of the relevant literature, the current study refers to knowledge gaps for future researchers and provides an overall evaluation. From a comprehensive perspective on Instagram usage, various implications for academics, service providers, and users are presented.