The Effect of Virtual Social Networks on Users' Self-Care of Covid-19: A Structural Equation Modeling

Today, social networks provide a good opportunity for self-care. The aim of this study was to identify the impact and relationship of virtual social networks on userschr('39') self-care of COVID-19 and to achieve a structural equation modeling.

In the present descriptive-analytical study, the measuring instrument was an online questionnaire extracted from Orem’s  self-care model(2011) adapted based on the objectives of study. The study sample included 662 social network users (WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram users) in Hormozgan province; they were selected through convenience sampling. Modeling was carried out using SPSS and Amos software.

The results of the present research indicated a significant and direct relationship between the independent variables of “presence and interaction in the social networks” and “users’ orientation to the type of social network” with the dependent variable of “self-care towards COVID-19” (p< 0.0009). In addition, 45 percent of changes in self-care variable was covered by a set of social networking indices. The structural equation Modelling (SEM) showed that in the self-care variable, the dimension of psychological support with a standard coefficient of 0.99 had the highest effect, and the dimension of awareness and attention to the effects and results of COVID-19 with a standard coefficient of 0.95 had the lowest effect with regard to the variables of presence and interaction in the network and users’ orientation to the type of network.

Since social networks have been able to affect userschr('39') self-care, health officials and disease control and prevention centers can use the potential of social networks in self-care.