Association between Selfie Taking Behavior and Self-Esteem among Iraqi University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Objective: This study examined the prevalence of selfie-taking behavior and self-esteem levels among Iraqi university students and analyzed the association between selfie-taking behavior and self-esteem.
Methods and Materials: A descriptive correlational cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to March 2024 in four colleges at the University of Baghdad. Using stratified random sampling, 372 students (263 males, 109 females) aged 19–24 years who owned smartphones with selfie cameras were recruited. Data were collected using a socio-demographic form, the Arabic Selfie Behavior Scale (20 items; six dimensions), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (10 items). Both instruments demonstrated good reliability in the current sample. Data were analyzed with SPSS 24 using descriptive statistics, t tests to examine group differences, and simple linear regression to test whether selfie behavior predicted self-esteem.
Findings: Most students (64.6%) showed moderate selfie-taking behavior, while 17.7% had mild and 17.7% severe levels. Regarding self-esteem, 74.2% had normal, 12.1% high, and 13.7% low self-esteem. Female students reported significantly higher selfie behavior scores than males (p = 0.006), whereas no significant differences were found by college type. Regression analysis indicated that higher selfie behavior predicted lower self-esteem (B = −0.054, β = −0.176, p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Selfie-taking behavior is widespread among Iraqi university students and is associated with lower self-esteem, particularly among females. Psychoeducational programs are recommended to raise awareness of the potential psychological impacts of excessive selfie behavior and to promote healthier social media use.
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