The role of media literacy in health literacy and Internet addiction among female postgraduate students

Abstract

Internet addiction is prevalent among students who often do not have the desired level of health literacy. This study aimed to determine the role of media literacy in health literacy and Internet addiction. The statistical population of this study comprised of female graduate students in Tehran. 183 participants were selected using convenience sampling method. The participants responded to health literacy scale, internet addiction scale, and media literacy scale. The results showed that information literacy had a significant and positive relationship with health literacy; however, it had a significant negative relationship with Internet addiction. It seems that media literacy can predict internet addiction and health literacy. This finding implied the importance of media literacy in increasing media literacy and reducing of Internet addiction.