1- Department of Psychology, Sav.C., Islamic Azad University, Saveh, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, Sav.C., Islamic Azad University, Saveh, Iran ,Beheshteh.niusha@iau.ac.ir
3- Department of Psychology, Rou.C.,Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, Sav.C., Islamic Azad University, Saveh, Iran ,
3- Department of Psychology, Rou.C.,Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
Abstract: (13 Views)
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the causal model of the relationships between media literacy and mental health/social maladjustment, with the mediating roles of behavioral emotion regulation and cognitive distortions, among adolescents in Tehran.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of all male and female students aged 11-15 years attending lower secondary schools in Tehran during the 2026-2027 academic year (1405-1404 in the Iranian calendar). A total of 354 students were selected using a multistage random sampling method. The research instruments included the Mental Health and Adolescent Maladjustment Questionnaire developed by Côté et al. (2017), the Digital Literacy Questionnaire developed by Voda et al. (2022), the Behavioral Emotion Regulation Questionnaire developed by Kraaij and Garnefski (2019), and the Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire developed by Gibbs et al. (1995).
Results: The findings indicated that the total path coefficient between media literacy and mental health/social maladjustment was negative and statistically significant (β = −.378, p = .001). The path coefficient between behavioral emotion regulation and mental health/social maladjustment was negative (β = −.468, p = .001), whereas the path coefficient between cognitive distortions and mental health/social maladjustment was positive and statistically significant (β = .371, p = .001). Furthermore, the indirect path coefficients between media literacy and mental health/social maladjustment through behavioral emotion regulation (β = −.202, p = .001) and cognitive distortions (β = −.122, p = .001) were negative and statistically significant. Accordingly, behavioral emotion regulation and cognitive distortions significantly and negatively mediated the effect of media literacy on mental health/social maladjustment among Generation Alpha adolescents. Collectively, media literacy, behavioral emotion regulation, and cognitive distortions explained 44% of the variance in mental health/social maladjustment among Generation Alpha adolescents (R² = .44).
Conclusions: Reducing dysfunctional interpretations and promoting adaptive emotional and behavioral responses can provide a foundation for better adjustment among adolescents.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of all male and female students aged 11-15 years attending lower secondary schools in Tehran during the 2026-2027 academic year (1405-1404 in the Iranian calendar). A total of 354 students were selected using a multistage random sampling method. The research instruments included the Mental Health and Adolescent Maladjustment Questionnaire developed by Côté et al. (2017), the Digital Literacy Questionnaire developed by Voda et al. (2022), the Behavioral Emotion Regulation Questionnaire developed by Kraaij and Garnefski (2019), and the Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire developed by Gibbs et al. (1995).
Results: The findings indicated that the total path coefficient between media literacy and mental health/social maladjustment was negative and statistically significant (β = −.378, p = .001). The path coefficient between behavioral emotion regulation and mental health/social maladjustment was negative (β = −.468, p = .001), whereas the path coefficient between cognitive distortions and mental health/social maladjustment was positive and statistically significant (β = .371, p = .001). Furthermore, the indirect path coefficients between media literacy and mental health/social maladjustment through behavioral emotion regulation (β = −.202, p = .001) and cognitive distortions (β = −.122, p = .001) were negative and statistically significant. Accordingly, behavioral emotion regulation and cognitive distortions significantly and negatively mediated the effect of media literacy on mental health/social maladjustment among Generation Alpha adolescents. Collectively, media literacy, behavioral emotion regulation, and cognitive distortions explained 44% of the variance in mental health/social maladjustment among Generation Alpha adolescents (R² = .44).
Conclusions: Reducing dysfunctional interpretations and promoting adaptive emotional and behavioral responses can provide a foundation for better adjustment among adolescents.
Keywords: Media literacy, Mental health, Social maladjustment, Behavioral emotion regulation, Cognitive distortions
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Evolutionary Psychology
Received: 2026/03/11 | Accepted: 2026/08/12
Received: 2026/03/11 | Accepted: 2026/08/12
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