Social media and farmer's resilience to drought as an environmental disaster: A moderation effect

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the impact of social media, as a moderator variable, on farmer's resilience to climate change. According to the lack of investigation on the social impacts of social media, this study examines the direct and indirect effects of social media on the livelihood capitals and resilience of farmers to climate change. The purpose of the current study is categorized as applied research. Data collection was done through the survey method. Also, data analysis was done using a non-experimental and descriptive-correlation method. The statistical population consists of 36281 farmers who live in the drainage basin of the Ghezel Ozan River in Zanjan province. The sample size estimated 384 people through Krejcie and Morgan's table. Also, stratified random sampling was used by the appropriate assignment. The validity and reliability were evaluated through the convergent and discriminant validity method, and combined reliability, respectively. Data processing was done through structural equation modeling based on the partial least squares method. Results indicated that social media affects, directly and indirectly, the farmer's resilience through livelihood capitals. Also, livelihood capitals have a significant positive impact on farmer's resilience to climate change.