ORIGINAL PAPER
Psychopathological symptoms and risky behaviors,
and the use of social networking sites by adolescents
1
Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, First Faculty of Medicine with Dentistry Division, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
2
Department of Psychology, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
3
Provincial Specialist Hospital named after Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński SP ZOZ, Lublin, Poland
Submission date: 2023-10-10
Final revision date: 2023-11-16
Acceptance date: 2023-12-05
Publication date: 2024-03-28
Corresponding author
Justyna Cecylia Świerczyńska
Department of Psychology, Jan Kochanowski University, ul. Krakowska 11, 25-029 Kielce, Poland
Department of Psychology, Jan Kochanowski University, ul. Krakowska 11, 25-029 Kielce, Poland
Medical Studies 2024;40(1):53-60
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction::
Due to technological advancement, social networking sites have gained enormous popularity and are now present in all areas of life. The phenomenon of excessive use of the Internet and social networking sites, as well as the effect of pathological use of these media on the severity of neurotic symptoms and risky behaviors in children and adolescents has become the research area by numerous educators, sociologists, psychologists and psychiatrists.
Aim of the research::
To analyze the relationship between the amount of time spent on social networking sites and reasons for using them, and the severity of psychopathological symptoms and the occurrence of risky behaviors in adolescents such as using psychoactive substances, disclosing their suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts.
Material and methods::
The study included 246 subjects with social networking profiles and aged 16 to 19. The Symptom Checklist ‘O’ by Jerzy W. Aleksandrowicz and a self-constructed questionnaire were the research tools used in this study.
Results::
Based on the results of the study, the intensity of psychopathological symptoms and reported risky behaviors were significantly correlated with the length of activity on a social networking site and the specific reasons why young people used it.
Conclusions::
Longer time of using social networking sites by the surveyed adolescents correlates with self-harm and suicide attempts. Engaging in website activities for the purpose of bragging, attracting attention, or seeking recognition and acceptance is significantly correlated with the subjects’ severe neurotic symptoms.
Due to technological advancement, social networking sites have gained enormous popularity and are now present in all areas of life. The phenomenon of excessive use of the Internet and social networking sites, as well as the effect of pathological use of these media on the severity of neurotic symptoms and risky behaviors in children and adolescents has become the research area by numerous educators, sociologists, psychologists and psychiatrists.
Aim of the research::
To analyze the relationship between the amount of time spent on social networking sites and reasons for using them, and the severity of psychopathological symptoms and the occurrence of risky behaviors in adolescents such as using psychoactive substances, disclosing their suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts.
Material and methods::
The study included 246 subjects with social networking profiles and aged 16 to 19. The Symptom Checklist ‘O’ by Jerzy W. Aleksandrowicz and a self-constructed questionnaire were the research tools used in this study.
Results::
Based on the results of the study, the intensity of psychopathological symptoms and reported risky behaviors were significantly correlated with the length of activity on a social networking site and the specific reasons why young people used it.
Conclusions::
Longer time of using social networking sites by the surveyed adolescents correlates with self-harm and suicide attempts. Engaging in website activities for the purpose of bragging, attracting attention, or seeking recognition and acceptance is significantly correlated with the subjects’ severe neurotic symptoms.
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