L’objectif de notre travail est de décrire et d’identifier les variables associées aux différentes dimensions de l’adaptation socio-affective des enfants âgés de 9–12 ans qui possèdent un profil sur Facebook, en fonction de deux tranches d’âge et de leur sexe d’appartenance, afin d’en relever leurs principaux facteurs de risque.

Nous avons réalisé une enquête par questionnaires dans 15 établissements scolaires de la région toulousaine auprès des enfants et de leurs parents. Sur les 508 participants, nous n’avons conservé que les 147 enfants qui disposaient d’un profil sur Facebook. L’adaptation socio-affective des enfants a été appréhendée à travers le Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire de Goodman (1997), traduit en langue française, qui mobilise les représentations parentales en ce qui concerne l’adaptation socio-affective et comportementale de l’enfant. Les enfants ont, quant à eux, répondu à un auto-questionnaire interrogeant la fréquence, durée, dispositif numérique, lien d’amitiés et partenaires de la communication sur Facebook.

Une grande majorité des enfants se situent dans la norme comportementale sur l’adaptation socio-affective. Cependant, la communication avec des inconnus et un lien d’amitié avec des « célébrités » pourraient constituer des facteurs de risque, alors que la communication avec des amis serait un facteur de protection.

L’utilisation de Facebook ne semble pas nuire à l’adaptation socio-affective des enfants âgés de 9–12 hormis pour les garçons qui présentent plus de troubles de l’adaptation comparativement aux filles.

The aim of this study is to describe and identify the associated variables with different factors of socio-affective adaptation of children aged from 9–12 years old, who possess a Facebook account. These variables are analyzed according to the child's age and its gender in order to find the main risk factors.

A survey using questionnaires was conducted in 15 schools of the Toulouse region. Children and their parents participated in this research. Out of 508 participants, 147 children had a Facebook account. The French version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire made by Goodman (1997) was used in order to measure the level of children's socio-affective adaptation. This questionnaire inquiries the parental perceptions relating to child's socio-affective and behavioral adaptation. In addition to the parents, children replied to an auto-administrated questionnaire asking them about the frequency, the period of time spent online, the digital device (computer, mobile phone), the friendships and communication partners on Facebook.

A slightly larger number of girls than boys have a Facebook account, that is 56.5% (n=83) versus 43.5% (n=64). More than one third of children (n=104, 70.7%) who have an account are between 11 and 12 years old. On the other hand, only 29.3% (n=43) are between 9and 10 years old. As far as the communication partners are concerned, 12.2% (n=18) of children talk with children that they don’t know and the younger ones are proportionally and significantly more apt (20.9%, n=9) to talk with people that they don’t know as compared with older children (8.7%, n=9) [Chi² (1)=4.26, P=0.039]. The majority of children are in the standards in terms of socio-affective adaptation. Having a communication with unknown people online and friendships with the “celebrities” may be a risk factor while having a communication with friends would be a protection factor.

Facebook use does not seem to harm children's socio-affective adaptation of 9–12 years old children apart from the boys who exhibit more behavioral troubles as compared to girls. Moreover, in a perspective of prevention, it appears to be essential to support children being at a risk of exhibiting psychological issues in order to reduce and avoid the negative outcome of a problematic Facebook use.