Objective: To investigate the relationship between social media use and adolescent self-esteem over time.
Research Questions:
1. Does frequent social media use affect adolescents' self-esteem levels?
2. Are there gender differences in the impact of social media on self-esteem?
3. Does the type of social media content (e.g., positive, negative, or neutral) influence self-esteem?
Methodology:
1. Participants: A sample of 500 adolescents (aged 13 to 18 years) will be randomly selected from a local high school.
2. Data Collection:
- Baseline Survey: At the beginning of the study (T1), participants will complete a survey assessing their self-esteem, social media use patterns, and demographic information.
- Follow-up Surveys: Participants will complete follow-up surveys (T2, T3, T4) at 3-month intervals over the course of one year. These surveys will assess changes in self-esteem and social media use.
3. Data Analysis:
- Descriptive statistics: Analyze baseline data to describe the sample's characteristics and initial self-esteem levels.
- Longitudinal analysis: Use regression analyses to examine the relationships between social media use, self-esteem, and potential confounding factors (e.g., age, gender) over time.
- Qualitative analysis (optional): Conduct interviews or focus groups with a subset of participants to gain deeper insights into their experiences with social media and self-esteem.
Significance:
This research project will contribute to our understanding of the impact of social media on adolescent self-esteem. The longitudinal design will allow us to examine the directionality and persistence of these effects over time, addressing the causal relationship between social media use and self-esteem. The findings may inform interventions aimed at promoting positive mental health among adolescents in an increasingly digital world.