Investigating the psychological and social effects of using cyberspace by female high school students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate professor Department of Education, University of Mazandaran

2 Associate professor Department of Educational Innovation and Curriculum, Higher Education Research and Planning Institute, Tehran, Iran

3 Master of degree in Curriculum Planning, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

The present study was a self-reporting of the consequences of students and teenagers' use of cyberspace. The research was cross-sectional and survey. The statistical population was 1698 female students of the second secondary level of Babolsar city. The sample size was 261 people based on Karjesi and Morgan's table and selected by cluster sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire with 56 items. Validity was confirmed by experts and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.831 for reliability. The results showed that the use of virtual space increases psychological consequences such as anxiety and temper tantrums (0.714), social consequences such as social isolation and distraction (0.560), physical consequences such as eye irritation and weakening of the eyes, headache, damage to the spine ( 0.600) and educational consequences such as conflict of values (0.531) had a direct and significant relationship. The significance of each of the variables has been obtained through the regression test. As a result, the effects and negative consequences of using virtual space in different physical, psychological, educational and social dimensions are significant and require more attention from the officials and educators of virtual space.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 20 October 2024
  • Revise Date: 03 December 2024
  • Accept Date: 11 March 2025
  • First Publish Date: 21 March 2025
  • Publish Date: 21 March 2025

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