Original scientific paper
Real and virtual adolescent friendships: the role of social support, certain individual characteristics and school variables
Vesna Bilić
orcid.org/0000-0003-2306-5803
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Učiteljski fakultet, Savska 77, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
In this paper it is analyzed the relationship between real and virtual adolescent friendships and some of their traits (shyness, loneliness, self-esteem), the perceived quality of their relationship with parents, friends and teachers, and a sense of belonging to the school and school success. The study was conducted on a sample of 481 (48,9%M, 51.1%F) seventh and eighth grade students (mean age: 13,84; SD=0,68). Correlation analysis has identifi ed a positive correlation between social support from family, friends and teachers, a sense of belonging to school, better school performance; and relationships with real friends. However,the lonelier the students are, the lower their self- esteem is, the weaker support from their family is and the poorer their school performance is, the more intense
are interactions with virtual friends. Multiple regression analysis showed that more positive interactions with real friends have girls and students who have a greater support from their friends and feel a greater affi liation to school; and negative interactions have students of lowes self-esteem and those who have a weaker sense of belonging to the school. Positive interactions with virtual friends have students who have support of real friends; and a greater intensity of negative interactions is observed among boys, as well as students who feel lonely and have lower self- esteem. The obtained results contribute to the expansion of knowledge about the real and virtual adolescent friends, and may be useful to parents and teachers for practical treatment.
Keywords
social support; school affi liation; online friends; loneliness
Hrčak ID:
112632
URI
Publication date:
15.1.2014.
Visits: 3.223 *