Modeling students' tendency to cyberspace based on individual, contextual and environmental factors: Assessing its psychological consequences

Abstract

The aim of this study was to modeling the tendency of students to cyberspace based on individual, contextual and environmental factors and its psychological consequences. The research method was descriptive-correlational and all high school students in Ardabil were 21,714 statistical population of this study, of which 340 students were selected as a research sample using Krejcie and Morgan sampling table using multi-stage cluster sampling method. To collect the data, a researcher-made questionnaire and standard questionnaires of Young Internet Addiction Test (1998), Lovibond Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (1995), Russell Social Isolation Scale (1976) and a questionnaire The character "Woodworth" (2001) was used. Data analysis was performed using factor analysis and path analysis methods using SPSS 26, LISREL and AMOS softwares. The results showed that all the direct effect coefficients of the routes are significant and among them the direct effect coefficients of individual factors on user satisfaction (effect coefficient 0.14 and T value=2.40) and tendency to cyberspace (effect coefficient 0.10 and The value of T value=2.46 and the coefficient of direct effect of environmental factors on user satisfaction (effect coefficient of 0.10 and T value=1.66) are significant at the level of P<0.05 and other coefficients at the level of P<0.01. Also, all the indirect effect coefficients of the variables, except for the indirect indirect effect coefficient, are significant on the tendency to cyberspace through user satisfaction at the level of P<0.01. The data showed that the vastness of the Internet, easy access, cheapness and low cost, as well as the content of sites and social networks, feelings of loneliness and interaction with others are among the factors tending to cyberspace and its high impact on Internet addiction, violence, social isolation. Anxiety and depression indicate that the tendency to cyberspace originates more from what sources and how much they can be effective in the occurrence or exacerbation of mental disorders, and this can be a wake-up call for parents and school, as well as community leaders and decision makers so appropriate and effective syntax in managing the use of this technology to play a role.

Keywords

• cyberspace
• path analysis
• internet addiction