Comparison of mental health, social capital and identity of gender role of user and non-user students in social networks

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare mental health, social capital and gender role identity of user and non-user students in social networks. The method of this research is descriptive-comparative. The statistical population of this study included all gifted high school students in Tabrizthat of these, 120 students according to scores of 23-46 in the mobile-based social network addiction questionnaire as non-user students and 120 students with scores higher than 46 in the questionnaire as user students after matching and using Multi-stage and purposive cluster sampling methods were selected. Data were collected using Goldberg and Hiller (1979) Mental Health Questionnaire, Putnam Social Capital (2000) and Bem Gender Identity (1974). Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of varianceThe results of multivariate analysis of variance showed that there is a significant difference between user and non-user students in social networks in terms of mental health, social capital and identity of gender role. In addition, the results of Scheffe post hoc test also showed that social network users have significantly lower mental health (p=0.001) and social capital (p=0.003) than non-social network users, as well as gender role identity and they also have a more attenuated gender role identity (p=0.001). Findings of this study help to recognize the very important differences between users of social networks and non-users of these networks in terms of mental health, social capital and gender role identity and highlights the need to promote mental health, social capital, and the gender role of students using social media.

Keywords

• mental health
• social capital
• gender role identity
• social networks