THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS ON THE CREATION OF SELFIMAGE AND SELF-ESTEEM OF ADOLESCENTS: research

Uvod: Adolescencija se smatra emocionalno intenzivnim i stresnim razdobljem u kojem se uspostavlja neovisnost, stvara jak identitet i stavlja fokus na samoga sebe. Društvene mreže dovode do društvenih usporedbi, samovrednovanja i stvaranja slike o sebi, što može utjecati pozitivno ili negativno na korisnike istih. Posebno ranjiva skupina korisnika društvenih mreža su adolescenti. Cilj: Glavni cilj ovog istraživanja je ispitati značaj društvenih mreža na stvaranje slike o sebi, učestalost negativnih iskustava na društvenim mrežama i razinu samopoštovanje učenika medicinske škole Karlovac u kontekstu društvenih mreža. Metode: U istraživanju je sudjelovalo ukupno 126 učenika srednje Medicinske škole u Karlovcu. Utjecaj društvenih mreža na stvaranje slike o sebi i učestalost negativnih iskustava na internetu se ispitivalo autorskim upitnicima, a samopoštovanje se ispitalo Rosenbergovom skalom samopoštovanja. Rezultati: Dob nije bila značajan faktor za stvaranje slike o sebi i u izloženosti nasilju na društvenim mrežama. Učenice su postigle statistički značajno nižu razinu samopoštovanja od učenika. Broj prijatelja/pratitelja i vrijeme provedeno na društvenim mrežama nisu imali statistički značajan utjecaj na razinu samopoštovanja. Razina samopoštovanja raste porastom broja bliskih prijatelja. Broj prijatelja/pratitelja i vrijeme provedeno na društvenim mrežama nisu bili značajni prediktori u percipiranom značaju društvenih mreža na stvaranje slike o sebi. Zaključak: Iako naše istraživanje nije pokazalo značajan utjecaj društvenih mreža na samopoštovanje promatranog uzorka učenika, društvene mreže imaju i pozitivan i negativan aspekt utjecaja na samopoštovanje. Upotreba društvenih mreža može biti vrlo korisna za društveno povezivanje, osjećaj pripadnosti i prihvaćanje, ali također može imati i psihološki negativne učinke poput internetske ovisnosti i fokusiranja na vlastiti izgled koji rezultira objektivizacijom samoga sebe.Introduction: Social networks lead to social comparisons, self-evaluation and creation of selfimage, which can affect users positively or negatively. A particularly vulnerable group of social network users are adolescents. Adolescence is considered an emotionally intense and stressful period in which independence is established, a strong identity is created and the focus is placed on oneself. Objective: The main objective of this research is to examine the importance of social networks on creating a self-image, the frequency of negative experiences on social networks and the level of self-esteem of Karlovac medical school students in the context of social networks. Methods: A total of 126 students of the high school of medicine in Karlovac participated in the research. The influence of social networks on the creation of self-image and the frequency of negative experiences on the Internet was examined with author's questionnaires, and self-esteem was examined with the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Results: Age was not a significant factor for self-image and exposure to violence on social networks. Female students achieved a statistically significantly lower level of self-esteem than male students. The number of friends/followers and the time spent on social networks did not have a statistically significant effect on the level of self-esteem. The level of self-esteem increases with the increase in the number of close friends. The number of friends/followers and time spent on social networks were not significant predictors of the perceived importance of social networks on self-image formation. Conclusion: Although our research did not show a significant influence of social networks on the self-esteem of the observed sample of students, social networks have both positive and negative aspects of influence on self-esteem. The use of social networks can be very useful for social connection, a sense of belonging and acceptance, but it can also have psychologically negative effects such as Internet addiction and a focus on one's own appearance that results in self-objectification