Religiosity, Self-Esteem and Self-Focused Gratifications in Social Media

Abstract

This research aims to identify and describe the relationships and interactions between Ordu University students' religiosity, self-esteem and self-focused gratifications in social media. This study used a survey model. The questionnaire was applied to 341 students from various faculties and departments of Ordu University. In the questionnaire form, besides the demographic variables, "Religiosity Scale" consisting of 9 questions and two dimensions, "Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale" and "Self-focused Gratifications on Social Media" composed of 5 factors were used. Research data was analyzed by IBM SPSS program. t-test, ANOVA and Pearson Correlation analyzes were used to test hypotheses. It was found that gender, differences in the religiosity, self aggrendizement and the performing ideal self that dimensions of self-focused gratifications on social media scale. Theology faculty students have a higher average of all dimensions of religiosity than other faculty students. Self-esteem and self-expression were found to be negatively related to self-esteem. There is no relationship between religiosity and sub-dimensions and self-esteem. Moreover, there is no relationship between religiosity and self-focused gratifications on social media. Further research should investigate the social media, which have an important place in society, and its impacting factors to the the society, can provide important contributions to the literature. Especially in virtual environments where anonymity is dominant, understanding of the behavior of the society may be understood and some strategies can be developed to reduce the adverse effects of internet and social media on society life.