The Relationship between Self-Esteem and Social Network Loneliness: A Study of Trainee School Counsellors

Abstract

In this study, the relationship was investigated between self-esteem and loneliness in social networks among students in a guidance and psychological counselling teaching department. The study was conducted during the 2017-2018 academic year with 312 trainee school counsellors from Turkey. In terms of data collection, the Social Network Loneliness Scale, and the Self-esteem Scale were employed, and a statistical analysis of the data was conducted. We found a negative relationship between self-esteem and loneliness as experienced in social networks, although neither differs according to sex, age and class level. It was also found that those who use the Internet for communication purposes have high levels of loneliness and self-esteem in social networks. While self-esteem levels among users of the Internet are high, those who use it to read about or watch the news have high levels of loneliness. No relationship was found between self-esteem and social network loneliness levels and among those who use the Internet for playing games. Regular sporting habits were found to have a positive effect on self-esteem, but no effect on the level of loneliness in social networks.