the Moderating Role of Media Literacy in the Relationship between Family Health Level and Emotional-Behavioral Problems of Adolescents

Abstract

Today, the media is one of the most important tools for human growth or development and has a great impact on the health of the family environment and on nurturing and changing the adolescents’ behaviors and emotions. It is highly necessary, therefore, to train the society in the proper use of these tools. On the other hand, the health of the family environment and the content of early learning are very important in the formation of adolescent identity and personality and they shape behaviors and interpersonal communications. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of media literacy variable in the relationship between family health and adolescent emotional-behavioral problems. The sample was selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method and a total sample of 310 female students (15-18 years old) was studied. The results showed that media literacy in the relationship between the two variables positively moderates and increases this relationship, so that, as the level of media literacy of a person increases, the level of family health increases and as a result, behavioral-emotional problems are reduced. Another finding of this study is that family health could predict emotional problems, behavior, hyperactivity, and social behavior, and that there is a significant relationship between them. However, this relationship is not meaningful when it concerns family health with communicative problems.

Keywords

• media literacy
• family health
• emotional and behavioral problems
• adolescents