Research Article
Social Media and the Interconnectedness with Self-Concept of Undergraduate Psychology Students, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Leila Mkameli Gwiyo
,
Geoffrey Mbugua Wango*
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
1-20
Received:
16 September 2026
Accepted:
29 September 2026
Published:
20 October 2026
Abstract: The extensive use of social media especially amongst young adults in college and universities raises concerns on its effects in regard to psychological well-being particularly, self-concept. However, little research has examined these issues within and in low-and-middle income countries. This study sought to examine the impact of using social media on the self-concept of psychology students at the University of Nairobi by focusing on exposure to risk, and the influence of online feedback. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected through liker-scale and open-ended questionnaires administered to 287 third-year psychology students, with a response rate of 95.7 percent, and analysed using both inferential and descriptive statistics. The findings established that frequent use of social media was linked to greater social comparison and reduced self-esteem, with the strongest effects observed among students who reported spending more than three hours daily on social media platforms. Significant risks included cyberbullying, anxiety, and Internet addiction, which negatively affected self-image. Feedback mechanisms (likes, comments, shares) significantly influenced self-worth, with negative feedback often leading to decreased self-esteem and positive feedback enhancing validation. The study concludes that social media considerably shapes self-concept, with both positive and negative effects mediated by usage patterns and feedback dependency. The study recommends integrating digital literacy and mental health programmes into learning to promote healthier social media engagement. Further research should explore longitudinal effects, gender differences, and cultural variations in social media-related self-concept formation.
Abstract: The extensive use of social media especially amongst young adults in college and universities raises concerns on its effects in regard to psychological well-being particularly, self-concept. However, little research has examined these issues within and in low-and-middle income countries. This study sought to examine the impact of using social media...
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Research Article
Gender, Age, and Personality Types as Predictors of Motor Drivers’ Attitude to Seatbelt Use in Enugu State
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
21-30
Received:
3 August 2026
Accepted:
8 October 2026
Published:
29 October 2026
Abstract: Safety belts are installed in vehicles to protect the lives of people who use such vehicles. For such belts to actually save lives and prevent socio-economic losses, vehicle users must wear them. In Nigeria, the national policy (as established in the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act 2007) on the use of seatbelts in motorized vehicles makes it mandatory for motorists and front-seat passengers to fasten their seatbelts while the vehicle is in motion. This law was introduced to reduce fatalities from road crashes. Incidentally, many people do not wear their belts when boarding vehicles. This problem has been attributed to factors such as motorists’ attitudes towards seatbelt usage and poor enforcement of road safety laws. This study examined gender, age, and personality types as predictors of attitude to seatbelt use among motor drivers in Nsukka (a city in Enugu State, Nigeria). Two hundred and two (202) private and commercial drivers participated in the study. Among the participants were male and female licensed drivers who had driven for at least two years. The average age of the drivers, who ranged in age from 21 to 50, was 38.5. The instruments used for data collection were the Big Five Personality Inventory-10 (BFI-10) and Attitude to Seat Belt Use Scale. Results showed that gender (β =.32, t = 4.74, p <.000), age (β = .66, t = 13.39, p < .000), age (β =.66, t = 13.39, p <.000), and conscientiousness personality trait (β = .15, t = 2.96, p< .001) were significant in positively predicting attitude to seatbelt usage. That is, findings identified gender, age, and conscientiousness as significant predictors of attitude toward seatbelt use among vehicle drivers. Thus, the results of this study have implications for road safety campaigns. Such campaigns could include scenarios illustrating the consequences of failure to wear seatbelts, particularly among men and boys who died due to failure to wear seatbelts. Additionally, the road safety campaigns should include measures aimed at encouraging the development of a positive attitude towards the use of seatbelts among drivers. This calls on seatbelt use campaign organizers, while educating the public, to target men and youths and, at the same time, tailor their programmes to individuals who exhibit extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, and openness to experience personality dimensions, to improve drivers' attitudes towards seatbelt use.
Abstract: Safety belts are installed in vehicles to protect the lives of people who use such vehicles. For such belts to actually save lives and prevent socio-economic losses, vehicle users must wear them. In Nigeria, the national policy (as established in the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act 2007) on the use of seatbelts in motorized vehicles makes...
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