حسین اسکندری

This research aims to provide a theoretical model to explain addiction to social network using media literacy and emotional intelligence as independent variables and social support as the mediator. The study population includes all students of Bojnord’s university in 2017-2018 academic year. It was determined based on three indices: a medium effect size of 0.30, a test power of 0.85, and an alpha of 0.05. A sample of 160 people was determined by G-Power software, and 178 questionnaires were completed. The sampling was conducted using available sampling method. To do so, the link of research questionnaires was offered to volunteer students. The main research instruments were: social support questionnaire, addiction to social network questionnaire, emotional intelligence questionnaire and multidimensional social support questionnaire. The exploratory nature of research data was analyzed by partial least squares method and PLS software. Results showed the reliability of the measurement model, the structural model and the overall research model (GOF=0.66). According to the results, all direct effects were significant. That is, social support(r=0.84, p <0.0001), media literacy (r=0.698, p <0.0001) and emotional intelligence (r=0.798, p <0.0001) were significantly correlated with addiction to virtual social network. Also, Sobel statistics and its significance level suggested the indirect effect of media literacy (p <0.024) and emotional intelligence (p <0.011) on addiction to social network through social support. Emotional impulse control, awareness of media content and processes, and a sense of belonging and relationship with other people in the real world predict addiction to virtual social networks. Hence, the social support of government and authentic sources can mediate the association between addiction to social network and emotional intelligence in university students and improve their media literacy.

Purpose: Technologies in general and media in particular influence their audience through their form and content. There are many studies about the role and effect of classic media on values change; however, few studies have explored new emergent media such as social networks. The aim of this descriptive-survey research is to investigate how time spent on social network and social network addiction is related to value system of students. Methodology: Statistical population consisted of all students studying at higher education institutes in Bojnord during 2015-16 academic years. A sample of 229 students was selected using cluster-random sampling. Data was analyzed using SPSS 19 software. Findings: Findings revealed a negative significant relationship between the use of social network and social network addiction on the one hand, and the value system of students on the other hand. This finding held true for religious, cultural, political and social components of the value system, except for economic component. Discussion: According to these findings, higher education should pay greater attention to promoting media literacy of students.