Impact of Online and Offline Activism on Social Skills

Abstract

The objective of the study conducted was to detect differences in social skills and satisfaction with social support in social activism (online and/or offline). Quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with 210 participants, mostly women (n = 154; 73.3%), mean age 31.19 years (SD ± 11.62). We used a socio-demographic questionnaire, a questionnaire on social activism, the Social Support Satisfaction Scale and the Social Skills Inventory for data collection. Statistically significant differences were detected among supporters of social causes, presenting these lower scores on "friend satisfaction" and higher scores on the "self-exposure to unknown or new situations" factor when compared to who do not support social causes offline. It was also verified that individuals belonging to Facebook pages and/or groups and those who support online/offline causes, when compared with their counterparts, scored better on the factors "conversation and social skills" and "self-exposure to strangers and to new situations".