THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL NETWORKS ON THE SOCIAL HEALTH OF ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN ARDABIL

Abstract

The objective of this study is to identify the effects of virtual social networks on the social health of young people. And the question, Do virtual social networks effect the social health of young is addressed. The main hypothesis of this study is: is a relationship between the rate of using virtual social networks and the social health of youth. The theoretical framework of this study is based on the theories of Keyes, Giddens, and Larson regarding social health, and communication skills theories of Schneider, Berkman, Bartle, Giddens, and the network view and social model of Wellman regarding virtual social networks. In this study, which is a field study, 800 young people from Ardabil in 2014-2015 were selected, using the cluster sampling method. Data was gathered using the Keyes social health questionnaire and a questionnaire regarding virtual social networks. The obtained social health of young people followed an approximate normal distribution. There is a statistically significant relation between relating with friends, internet advertisements, social involvement, negative behavioral effects, invading individual privacy, income, and education with young people's social health. In regression analysis, the variables that form the model, determined about 19% of the changes in the variance of social health. The strongest predicting variables were: relating with friends, and internet advertisements. We can conclude that the social health of young people, as a social construct, is effected positively and negatively by virtual social networks.