The Study of Relationship between the Rate of Use of Media (TV and Internet) and Social Capital among Young Adults in Kermanshah City

Abstract Introduction and aim: The relationship between social variables and social capital to improve the society should be examined increasingly, since in any society social capital can strengthen social relationships and sense of cooperation and increase social trust. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the rate of use of media (TV and Internet) and social capital among young adult. Materials and methods: The outline of this research for data collection is descriptive and correlational. The statistical population of the research consists of all citizens (aged 20 to 30 years) in Kermanshah city. The sample size was 162 people calculated using Cochran formula and selected by random cluster method. To examine the social capital, Onyx and Bullet's social capital questionnaire was used. The rate of media use and the time spent using television and Internet within a week was also measured. To analyze the data, Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression methods were used. Findings: The results of the research showed that there is a positive significant relationship between the number of hours of using television and Internet, and social capital and its components, that is, participation in local community, social functionality, the sense of security and trust, interactions with neighbors, interactions with family and friends, tolerance of diversity, and the value of life. Also, the results of regression analysis showed that the use of television and Internet could predict and explain 32.1 percent of changes related to social capital. Conclusion: With an increase rate of use of media (TV and Internet), social capital and its dimensions increase