The role of regular internet usage on social behavior of students

• Main Authors: Nasrin Nazari Talooki, Mostafaa Ataee, Mohammad Ali Heidari Gorji, Nayereh Aghaei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry
• Subjects: Information technology; internet; social behaviors; students
• Online Access: http://www.indjsp.org/article.asp?issn=0971-9962;year=2017;volume=33;issue=1;spage=53;epage=56;aulast=Talooki

Aim: This study was aimed to investigate the role of internet usage on social behavior of the students. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 175 university students. The samples were selected randomly from 333 Arabic students and divided into low (<8 h a week) and high (>8 h a week) internet user groups. The data were collected via social behavior and demographic questionnaires. To analyze the data, t-test was used. Results: The findings indicated that social behavior and subscales, i.e. participation, interpersonal interaction, social positive and negative consequences of students are significantly different in low and high internet user groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Internet is the strongest communication tool, which affects all aspects of human life. This technology is also related with social behavioral aspects of students who participated in this study. Therefore, in social studies, the effects of internet usage in people's behavior could be considered as an effective variable.