The Relationship between Virtual Social Networks and Adolescents’ Spiritual Health in Zanjan City Download PDF

Aim: Given the increasing use of virtual social networks by adolescents who are one of the vulnerable group in the community and the importance of paying attention to spiritual health as one of the components of health in adolescent, This study was conducted to determine the relationship between virtual networks and adolescents’ spiritual health in Zanjan City. Material and method: This study was a descriptive-cross sectional type one. The population was 16-18 year-old girls and boys of government and non-government secondary schools in Zanjan City. Among them, 180 ones were selected as sample in multi-step method. The data gathering tool included: 1- Demographic information questionnaire 2- Spiritual health tool for Iranian adolescents and 3- Questionnaire on how much and how to use virtual networks. Data were collected by SPSS application version 16 and were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics (Kolmogorov Smirnov) tests, Independent T-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, ANOVA, chi-square test and post hoc tests. Results: The mean of spiritual health scores (p = 0.006) and all three sub-indices divinity (p = 0.001), inner peace (p = 0.023) and social interaction (p = 0.007) in adolescents who did not have the internet was significantly more than ones with the internet. Also, there was a significant difference between two gender for divinity index (p = 0.037) and the mean scores of divinity was higher for the girls than the boys. There was a significant difference among the adolescents with the Internet at home (p = 0.046) and the mean scores of divinity for adolescents who did not have the Internet at home was higher than the otherss. There was a significant relationship between the mean scores of spiritual health (p <0.001) and its sub-indices, divinity (p <0.000), and inner peace (p = 0.001) among the students of different bases and fields of study. The mean score of divinity among students who were members of social networks was lower than those who did not use these networks and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.005). Discussion: Most of the participants in this research were a member of the virtual social network. Also, the most teenagers’ motivation to subscribe to virtual social networks is to communicate with friends. In general, the mean scores of divinity among students who were members of social networks were lower than those who did not use these networks; this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.005). According to the above results, it is suggested that tutorials related to the control and management of virtual spaces should be one of the most important issues in adolescents’ education programs.