Virtual space and social media studies

Virtual space and social media studies

Studying the effects of cyberspace on the lifestyle of urban households in Haji Abad, South Khorasan .

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
saeed mohammadi sadegh 1
Masoud Jani 2
fstemeh rahdar 3
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran(Corresponding Author)
2 Master’s degree in Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.
3 Master’s degree in Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, University of Birjand, birjand, Iran.
10.22083/cssms.2026.564110.1088
Abstract
In the present era, cyberspace has become one of the main axes of social, economic, and cultural interactions. However, the penetration of communication technologies in Iranian urban societies is not simply a technological change, but a cultural transformation in everyday life; from the way parents and children communicate to the formation of consumer values, entertainment models, and social participation patterns have been influenced by the content and time spent on virtual media. These changes have sometimes led to increased generational gaps, reduced face-to-face interactions, and the formation of colder family relationships. Issues that can have more tangible effects in small, semi-traditional cities with high cultural cohesion. The city of Hajiabad in South Khorasan Province is no exception to this global trend. The expansion of access to high-speed internet and social networks has also shifted the lifestyle of urban households in this city from a traditional framework to new patterns of communication, cultural consumption, and social interaction.The aim of this study is to study the various dimensions of the impact of cyberspace on the lifestyle components of urban households in Haji Abad. The present study is of an applied type and is descriptive-analytical in nature and was conducted using a survey method. Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire and its content validity was confirmed by experts in the field of media and communication sociology. The statistical population of this study consisted of all urban households (3800 households) living in Haji Abad, a city in South Khorasan Province in 1404. Using the Cochran formula, 350 households were selected as a sample by simple random sampling. Cronbach’s alpha test was used to measure the construct validity and reliability of the instrument. The coefficients obtained for the overall scale of the questionnaire were equal to 0.87, which indicates the appropriate reliability of the instrument. In order to analyze the data, Pearson correlation, independent t-test, and multivariate regression tests were used. The results of the relationship between the amount of use of cyberspace and lifestyle dimensions showed that there is a positive relationship between cyberspace and family communication patterns with a Pearson coefficient of 0.620 and consumerism with a Pearson coefficient of 0.572, and a negative and significant relationship with face-to-face interaction with a coefficient of -0.484. The results of the independent t-test of the difference between the two groups of women and men showed that there is a significant difference between women with a mean of 3.780 and men with a mean of 3.421 in terms of the effects of cyberspace on lifestyle. The results of the study of the effects of cyberspace on the lifestyle of urban households showed that the time spent daily using cyberspace with a standardized beta coefficient of 0.410 has the greatest impact on the lifestyle of urban households, followed by the type of platform used with a coefficient of 0.273 and the purpose of online presence with a coefficient of 0.221, which have the greatest positive and significant impact, but the level of intra-family interaction with a beta coefficient of -0.194 has negative effects on the lifestyle of urban households.
Keywords
cyberspace
lifestyle
urban family
social networks
Hajiabad
Subjects
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Virtual space and social media studies
Volume 3, Issue 1 - Serial Number 9
Spring 2026
Pages 187-207

  • Receive Date 04 December 2025
  • Revise Date 09 April 2026
  • Accept Date 22 April 2026
  • First Publish Date 22 April 2026
  • Publish Date 21 April 2026