Fatjona HYSI- SOCIAL NETWORKS AND BODY IMAGE IN ADOLESCENCE THEIR IMPACT ON SELF-ESTEEM AND MENTAL HEALTH IN ADOLESCENTS

Dissertation Title: SOCIAL NETWORKS AND BODY IMAGE IN ADOLESCENCE THEIR IMPACT ON SELF-ESTEEM AND MENTAL HEALTH IN ADOLESCENTS

Author: Fatjona HYSI
Institution: University of Tirana, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Pedagogy and Psychology
Field of study: Psychology
Online publication date: 14.04.2026
The dissertation is published in Albanian.

© Copyright: Fatjona HYSI

Published by the University of Tirana
Based on legal acts, regulations and policies of the UT

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ABSTRACT

Purpose: This study examines the problematic impact of social media on adolescent mental health in Albania, focusing on cultural and contextual factors that are often overlooked in the international literature. The research aims to analyze the relationship between social media use and symptoms of depression and social anxiety, exploring the mediating role of body image and self-esteem.

Methodology: Using a cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design, this study examines the relationships and correlations between different variables at a given point in time. The study included 315 Albanian adolescents (13-19 years old), using a cross-sectional and descriptive-correlational methodology. Findings showed moderate use of social media, with TikTok, YouTube and WhatsApp being the most popular platforms. Levels of depression and anxiety in the sample were relatively low.

Results: The main findings report a strong positive association between social support and psychological resilience (r = .710), as well as a negative association between body image and social media use (r = -.446). No significant association was found between time spent on social media and depression (r = .007), a result that contradicts many international studies.

Conclusions: The study concludes that cultural context is crucial. Social support appears as a strong protective factor, while body image acts as a key mediator, with the impact of social media on depression mediated through perception of appearance. Based on these findings, the development of an index to measure the quality of social media use (SMQI) is proposed. The study challenges existing findings and highlights the need for policies that integrate cultural diversity. It contributes to a more complete understanding of the relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health.

Keywords: social networks, adolescents, cultural context, depression, anxiety, mental health.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This study investigates the problematic use of social media and its impact on adolescents' mental health in Albania, focusing on cultural and contextual factors often overlooked in international literature. The research aims to analyze the relationship between social media use and symptoms of depression and social anxiety, exploring the mediating roles of body image and self-esteem.

Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive – correlational design was employed to examine the relationships among key variables at a single point in time. The study involved 315 Albanian adolescents (aged 13-19) using a cross-sectional, descriptive – correlational design. Findings revealed moderate levels of social media use, with TikTok, YouTube, and WhatsApp being the most popular platforms. The sample exhibited relatively low levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Results: Key results highlighted a strong positive correlation between social support and resilience (r = .710) and a strong negative correlation between body image and social media use (r = -.446). Unexpectedly, a weak and non-significant correlation was found between time spent on social media and depression (r = .007), a finding that contradicts much of the international literature.

Conclusions: The study concludes that cultural context is crucial. Social support emerges as a powerful protective factor, while body image acts as a key mediator, with social media's influence on depression being channeled through its effects on body perception. Based on these findings, a new instrument, the Social Media Quality Index (SMQI), is proposed to measure the quality of social media use. This research challenges existing findings and underscores the need for policies that integrate cultural diversity. This study advances understanding of the relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health.

Keywords: social networks, adolescents, cultural context, depression and anxiety, mental health