Abstract :
Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship
between social health and the usage of social networks among the parents
of female students in Baharestan. Methodology: For this purpose, 370
parents (172 males and 198 females) were selected randomly through
cluster sampling based on kerjeci & Morgan's table. Then, the social health
questionnaire developed by Keyes and Shapiro (2004) and social networks
using questionnaire which is a researcher-made questionnaire were
completed. Findings: The results of convergent and divergent validity,
composite reliability, Cronbach's alpha, average variance extracted,
factor analysis, Stone-Geisser's criterion, goodness of fit, and independent
t-test revealed that there was a significant relationship between all the
components of social health (i.e. social integration, social coherence,
social actualization, social acceptance, and social contribution) and the
usage of social networks. Accordingly, social health explains 42% of the
usage of social networks. As regards the components, the percentages are
social integration (86%), social coherence (52%), social actualization
(25%), social acceptance (44%), and social contribution (36%). In
addition, no significant relationship was found between gender and usage.
There was a positive and significant relationship between virtual social
network and the components of physical health and general health scales,
physical function, physical role, and physical pain. Social health refers to
how a person's relationship is with others in a society is, or to his
socialization. Conclusion: social health is one of the three components
(plus physical and mental health) of general health.
