Investigation of The Relation Between The Use of Internet Among Nursing Students and Social Support Systems

Aim: This study aims to analyze the relation between the use of internet among the students of a nursing school and social support systems. Method: The study sample consisted of 316 students attending a nursing school. The study data were collected with a questionnaire form, The Online Cognition Scale and The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results: There was no statistically meaningful relation between the total score of the Online Cognition Scale and the sociodemographic characteristics of the participant students (p >0.05). The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support total score was found to be statistically meaningful in relation to the father’s profession (p= 0.028) and the level of income (p=0,03). It was also noted that there was a meaningful and weak negative relation between the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support total score and the Online Cognition Scale (r: -,136). However, the study results illustrated a weak negative relation between the Online Cognition Scale and the family social support (subdimension) (r: -,128*). There wasn’t a meaningful relation between the subdimensions of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The results further suggested a meaningful but a weak negative relation between the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Online Cognition Scale in terms of the social support (-,119*), the diminished impulse control (-,160**), the distraction (-,120*) subdimensions (** p< 0.01, *p >0.05) Conclusion: In light of the results of the study, it can be suggested that the use of internet is comparatively more common among university students with lower levels of social support.