Authors

• Oksanen, Atte (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Latikka, Rita (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Oksa, Reetta (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Savela, Nina (Tampere University. Faculty of Social Sciences)

Keywords

councillors, cyberbullying, harassment, hate speech, internet, job satisfaction, occupational life, online social networks, psychological well-being, social media

Abstract

The survey explores the experiences of Finnish municipal councilors concerning hate and harassment along with their social media use and overall well-being.

First, the survey mapped the respondents' social media usage habits. Respondents were asked, for example, how often they publish content on various social media services. In addition, the survey examined the use of social media at work and employers' attitudes toward public use of social media. Next, the survey mapped harassment and hate experienced at work and their effects on the respondents' activities and well-being. Respondents were also asked if they knew the perpetrator and if they reported the incident to anyone. Furthermore, concerns about potential harassment or targeted attacks were examined. At the end of the survey, questions focused on work well-being, work engagement, and social support. Respondents were also asked about general well-being, happiness, and experiences of psychological strain.

The experimental section of the survey examined how respondents reacted to death threats made on social media against either a close colleague or a stranger working in the same profession, based on perceived closeness and ideological similarity. Respondents were asked what reactions the event evoked in them and how the person who received the death threat should act.

The following instruments were used in the survey: Big Five Inventory BFI-S (Personality), Eysenck Impulsivity Scale EIS (Impulsivity), General Health Questionnaire GHQ-12 (Psychological strain), Identity Bubble Reinforcement Scale IBRS (Ideological similarity and identity bubbles), Single-Item Self-Esteem SISE (Self-esteem), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory STAI-6 (Anxiety), Trauma Screening Questionnaire TSQ (Screening for psychological trauma symptoms), and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale UWES (Work engagement, 9-item scale).

Background variables include, among others, respondent's gender, age group, marital status, education level, political party membership, economic activity, and information on how often the respondent appears in television, radio, or newspapers due to their work.