How Does Family Intimacy Predict Self-Esteem in Adolescents? Moderation of Social Media Use Based on Gender Difference

Abstract

The current study explored the multiple effects of social media use and its moderation mechanism between intimate family environment and self-esteem in adolescents. In all, 1,040 males and 1,201 females below age 25 have participated in this study. Hypothesis and research questions were proposed and examined by statistical analysis, consisting of statistical description, Pearson’s correlation analysis, independent-samples t test, multiple linear regression, simple-slope analysis, and moderation plot. Supportive social media use was identified as a moderator among all participants. Gender differences were found to exist in this moderation mechanism. Male adolescents tended to use social media as a habit, while female adolescents preferred to use social media for seeking support. The habitual social media use moderated the association between intimate family environment and self-esteem in male adolescents; the supportive social media use moderated the same procedure in female adolescents; however, both moderations were only found to be significant in the group of high habitual or supportive social media use, respectively.

General Self-Esteem as the Mechanism Through Which Early-Childhood Parental Trust and Support Affect Adolescents’ Learning Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model

“…Although studies of parental trust and the subsequent effects on adolescents’ later behaviors are very important, cultural representation is also essential before drawing a general conclusion. 39 This study is not enough to speak for the vast cultural environment of the African region. Further studies can be done by involving other age groups (ie, primary school age group), examining the interrelation of the variables and creating a clear picture of parenting in African culture and its associated outcome on children’s behavior in their later age.…”

“… 36 Other studies showed self-regulated learning (mediator) as the mechanisms through which such causal relationship works. 37 , 38 The relationship of similar variables may also be positively affected by students’ age and gender, 39 while youths’ reports (on their parental trust) predicted their academic achievement more than their parents’ reports. 16 Although most of the existing literature on parental trust and support has extracted data from adolescents (students) by means of self-reporting, less is known about the influence of self-esteem in such causal relationship.…”

“… 42 Parenting, specifically parental trust and support for their children, has a greater influence on adolescents’ later self-esteem, the relationship has been documented in different literature. 40 , 43 , 44 However, although much has been reported about the influence of parenting on students’ self-esteem in their learning processes at school, 39 , 45 less is known about the influence of their learning grades on the relationship between parental trust and their self-esteem. This study explores the moderation effect of students’ college grades in the relationship between parental trust/support and self-esteem.…”

The Relationship among Internet Addiction, Moral Potency, Mindfulness, and Psychological Capital

“…The rapid expansion of internet usage and the increasing prevalence of social media platforms have raised concerns about their impact on individuals’ moral values in the digital era [ 1 , 2 ]. Internet addiction (IA), also known as problematic internet use, has garnered significant attention from researchers and experts across various disciplines [ 2 , 3 ]. It refers to excessive or compulsive internet use that leads to significant impairment in different aspects of individuals’ lives over an extended period [ 3 ].…”