Motivations to Use a Mobile Virtual Social Networks and its Related Social Capital Among College Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Due to the increasing use of virtual networks and, on the other hand, ambiguities towards the positive or negative effects of these networks on the level of social interaction and social capital of users.

This study aims to determine the relationship between the motivation to use virtual mobile networks and social capital among students of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences.

This was a cross-sectional study was carried out on 350 students of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in 2017. Participants were selected by stratified sampling method with the proportional assignment. Data gathering tools included the demographic variables and questionnaires of motivation to use the virtual networks and social capital, which were completed through the self-reporting by the subjects. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and linear regression tests with SPSS24 software.

Most students used virtual networks for 3 to 5 hours a day (42.6%). Entertainment and pastime were the most reasons and motivations for using the virtual networks among students with 59% and 58.8% of the average score of the maximum achievable score, respectively. There was a positive and significant correlation between bonding and bridging social capital and the rate of virtual networks usage. Among the related factors studied, gender, nativeness, self-disclosure, immersion in the media, pastime, information search, individual status, maintaining relationships, entertainment, and linking social capital have a significant role in explaining the variance of the motivation to use the virtual network among the students (P<0.05).

Considering the increasing use of virtual networks among students and the lack of familiarity of students with other aspects affecting the health and life of these individuals, further research is needed. It is also imperative that the university counselling centres provide the required training for the students about the positive and negative consequences of the use of virtual networks based on the documentation.