RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE PLEASING BEHAVIOR ON SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE AND SELF-WORTH OF TIKTOK USERS: A BASIS FOR AWARENESS PROGRAM

Abstract

The tendency to engage in people-pleasing behavior is often rooted in the basic human desire for social acceptance, shaping how individuals view themselves and relate to others. On platforms like TikTok, where feedback is immediate and visible through likes, comments, and shares, users may develop a dependence on external validation. This dynamic can foster self-worth that is contingent on social approval, potentially influencing both digital behavior and offline self-esteem. To measure key variables in the study, the researchers utilized three standardized instruments: the Agreeableness Subscale of the Big Five Inventory (BFI) to assess people-pleasing behavior, the Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) to gauge perceived belongingness, and the Contingencies of Self-Worth Scale (CSWS) to evaluate self-worth based on external validation. A total of 150 participants were selected through purposive sampling, based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Data analysis involved Pearson’s correlation to explore the relationships between variables, and multiple regression analysis to examine the predictive role of social connectedness in the association between people-pleasing tendencies and contingent self-worth. The analysis showed a strong positive correlation between people-pleasing behavior and contingent self-worth (r = 0.52, p < .001), suggesting that individuals who frequently seek to please others are more likely to base their self-worth on external approval. A moderate positive correlation was also observed between people-pleasing and social connectedness (r = 0.41, p < .001), indicating that people-pleasers often report a stronger sense of belonging. Multiple regression analysis further revealed that social connectedness significantly moderated the relationship between people-pleasing and contingent self-worth (β = 0.37, R² = 0.49, p < .001). This implies that individuals with higher levels of perceived social connectedness are less reliant on external validation to maintain their self-worth, even when exhibiting people-pleasing tendencies. The results emphasize the psychological vulnerabilities linked to excessive people-pleasing, particularly within digital platforms where self-perception is often shaped by immediate feedback such as likes, comments, and shares. While social connectedness remains essential for emotional well-being, an overreliance on external affirmation can undermine self-esteem and contribute to emotional distress. This study highlights the dual nature of people-pleasing—while it may enhance social cohesion, it can simultaneously foster a fragile sense of self-worth when one's identity becomes dependent on others' approval.