Theoretical analysis of the role of virtual spaces on social interactions of family members

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor and Faculty Member, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities, National University of Science and Technology

Abstract

Given the importance of understanding and analyzing the theoretical perspectives of scholars in the social sciences regarding the use of cyberspace and its effects on individuals’ lives, this study aims to provide a theoretical analysis of the role of virtual spaces in the social interactions of family members.This research employed a mixed‑method approach: the quantitative part was descriptive‑explanatory and used a survey method, while the qualitative part used interviews. All married residents of Kermanshah city (above 18 years of age) were considered the statistical population. Cochran’s formula was used to determine the sample size, which was calculated as 383. To ensure the completion of all questionnaires, 385 individuals were selected as the final sample. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and interview form, and then analyzed. Social theories emphasize the emergence of internet addiction and the effects of excessive use of virtual social networks on both intra-group and inter-group family relationships. The impact of virtual space usage on family members’ interactions was found to be 28.3%, which highlights the need for families to take this issue seriously in order to improve family relationships and reduce excessive use of virtual environments. The findings show that 28.3% of the total changes in family members’ interactions depend on the independent variable of the study (use of virtual space), confirming the theoretical perspectives regarding the influence of virtual environments on family interactions.

Keywords

Strategic theorizing
Volume 4, Issue 4
December 2025

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