De Relatie Tussen Ouderlijke Regulatie van Social Mediagebruik en het Zelfbeeld van Adolescenten: De Invloed van Ouder-kindrelatie

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between parental mediation of adolescents’ social media use and self-image, for groups with a positive parent-child relationship and with a negative parent-child relationship. To answer this key question, the following three hypotheses were answered: (1) Active parental mediation of adolescents’ social media use is related to a positive self-image in adolescents, (2) adolescents with a better parent-child relationship have a more positive self-image, (3) the relationship between active parental mediation and positive self-image, is stronger for adolescents with a good parent-child relationship. Participants included 440 Dutch adolescents aged 12-19 (53% boys, 47% girls). The adolescents were selected from various high schools in the Netherlands. Self-image was assessed with the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES). Parent-child relationship was assessed with The Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI-RQV). The questionnaire also contained measures of parental mediation. Findings revealed that adolescents with a better parent-child relationship reported significantly higher levels of self-image. It was found that parental mediation of adolescents’ social media use was correlated with self-image. There appears to be no interaction effect with parent-child relationship. However, a PROCESS macro analysis showed that children in both groups of parent-child relationship showed a more positive self-image if parental mediation was lower. Knowledge and consensus about parental mediation of adolescents’ social media use is extremely limited, but essential to design effective interventions to reduce risks and negative consequences of social media use on adolescents’ self-image.