IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i21p11012-d660477.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Breaching Learners’ Social Distancing through Social Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Zaheer Asghar

    (Department of Education, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
    School of Doctorate Education & ICT (E-Learning), Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08018 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Ayesha Iqbal

    (Department of Engineering, Bedford College, Bedford MK42 9AH, UK)

  • Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen

    (Department of Education, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Elena Barbera

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08018 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Higher education has been shifted toward blended learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in social media usage intensity and reduced face-to-face interaction due to the COVID-19 pandemic urged instructional communication researchers to revisit the dynamics of learners’ group development in terms of their socialization and academic performance during the COVID-19 crisis. This research aimed to determine the mediating role of social media sociability between face-to-face socialization and academic performance of higher education students in blended learning environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also the aim of the study to determine the moderating effect of social media usage intensity on social media sociability. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with the students ( n = 340) enrolled in science teacher education departments of universities in Pakistan. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for multivariate analysis. Results revealed that face-to-face socialization gave an essential start to develop a learning group. However, when face-to-face socialization was reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was mediated by social media usage in blended learning environments to increase their socialization and academic performance during the crisis. The findings of the study are useful for higher education institutions to adopt social media strategies for students’ socialization during the crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Zaheer Asghar & Ayesha Iqbal & Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen & Elena Barbera, 2021. "Breaching Learners’ Social Distancing through Social Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11012-:d:660477
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/21/11012/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/21/11012/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiang Zhou & Samma Faiz Rasool & Jing Yang & Muhammad Zaheer Asghar, 2021. "Exploring the Relationship between Despotic Leadership and Job Satisfaction: The Role of Self Efficacy and Leader–Member Exchange," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-20, May.
    2. Sabina Potra & Adrian Pugna & Mădălin-Dorin Pop & Romeo Negrea & Luisa Dungan, 2021. "Facing COVID-19 Challenges: 1st-Year Students’ Experience with the Romanian Hybrid Higher Educational System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Kaya, Tugberk, 2020. "The changes in the effects of social media use of Cypriots due to COVID-19 pandemic," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    4. Sarstedt, Marko & Ringle, Christian M. & Smith, Donna & Reams, Russell & Hair, Joseph F., 2014. "Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM): A useful tool for family business researchers," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 105-115.
    5. Wilson, Jeanne M. & Straus, Susan G. & McEvily, Bill, 2006. "All in due time: The development of trust in computer-mediated and face-to-face teams," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 16-33, January.
    6. Wu, Chih-Wen, 2016. "The performance impact of social media in the chain store industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 5310-5316.
    7. Samma Faiz Rasool & Mansi Wang & Minze Tang & Amir Saeed & Javed Iqbal, 2021. "How Toxic Workplace Environment Effects the Employee Engagement: The Mediating Role of Organizational Support and Employee Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-17, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Patrick Cheong-Iao Pang & Wenjing Jiang & Guanwen Pu & Kin-Sun Chan & Ying Lau, 2022. "Social Media Engagement in Two Governmental Schemes during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Macao," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Muhammad Zaheer Asghar & Seema Arif & Elena Barbera & Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen & Ercan Kocayoruk, 2021. "Support through Social Media and Online Class Participation to Enhance Psychological Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Muhammad Zaheer Asghar & Seema Arif & Javed Iqbal & Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, 2022. "Social Media Tools for the Development of Pre-Service Health Sciences Researchers during COVID-19 in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-22, January.
    4. Muhammad Zaheer Asghar & Javed Iqbal & Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen & Elena Barbera & Fatih Mutlu Ozbilen & Yasira Waqar, 2023. "Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Modeling: Applying Vitae Researchers’ Development Framework through the Lens of Web 2.0 Technologies for Vocational-Health Education Researchers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-19, May.
    5. Santiago Batista-Toledo & Diana Gavilan, 2023. "Student Experience, Satisfaction and Commitment in Blended Learning: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Muhammad Zaheer Asghar & Seema Arif & Elena Barbera & Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen & Ercan Kocayoruk, 2021. "Support through Social Media and Online Class Participation to Enhance Psychological Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Xusen Cheng & Ying Bao & Xiaodan Yu & Yuanyanhang Shen, 2021. "Trust and Group Efficiency in Multinational Virtual Team Collaboration: A Longitudinal Study," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 529-551, June.
    3. da Silva, Filipa Pires & Mosquera, Pilar & Soares, Maria Eduarda, 2022. "Factors influencing knowledge sharing among IT geographically dispersed teams," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    4. Cynthia Atamba & John Kipngetich Mosonik & David Stuckler & Lincoln Jisuvei Sungu & Cornelia Melinda Adi Santoso & Halima Habuba Mohamed, 2023. "Impact of Workplace Mistreatment on Employees’ Health and Well-Being in Chinese Firms: A Systematic Review," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    5. Al-Baraa Abdulrahman Al-Mekhlafi & Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha & Nicholas Chileshe & Mohammed Abdulrab & Anwar Ameen Hezam Saeed & Ahmed Farouk Kineber, 2021. "Modelling the Relationship between the Nature of Work Factors and Driving Performance Mediating by Role of Fatigue," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-17, June.
    6. Asif Khan & Chih-Cheng Chen & Kwanrat Suanpong & Athapol Ruangkanjanases & Santhaya Kittikowit & Shih-Chih Chen, 2021. "The Impact of CSR on Sustainable Innovation Ambidexterity: The Mediating Role of Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Second-Order Social Capital," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-25, November.
    7. Diego Norena-Chavez, 2022. "Influence of SARS-CoV-2 on the Mediating Effect of Entrepreneurial Passion in the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Innovative Behavior," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(1), pages 125-139.
    8. Chen, Shih-Chih & Hung, Chung-Wen, 2016. "Elucidating the factors influencing the acceptance of green products: An extension of theory of planned behavior," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 155-163.
    9. Farooq, Ali & Laato, Samuli & Islam, A.K.M. Najmul & Isoaho, Jouni, 2021. "Understanding the impact of information sources on COVID-19 related preventive measures in Finland," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    10. Mahadzirah Mohamad & Asyraf Afthanorhan* & Zainudin Awang & Morliyati Mohammad, 2019. "Comparison Between CB-SEM and PLS-SEM: Testing and Confirming the Maqasid Syariah Quality of Life Measurement Model," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 5(3), pages 608-614, 03-2019.
    11. Cliff R. Kikawa & Charity Kiconco & Moses Agaba & Dimas Ntirampeba & Amos Ssematimba & Billy M. Kalema, 2022. "Social Media Marketing for Small and Medium Enterprise Performance in Uganda: A Structural Equation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-20, November.
    12. Debicki, Bart J. & Kellermanns, Franz W. & Chrisman, James J. & Pearson, Allison W. & Spencer, Barbara A., 2016. "Development of a socioemotional wealth importance (SEWi) scale for family firm research," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 47-57.
    13. R.M. Thirupathi & S. Vinodh, 2016. "Application of interpretive structural modelling and structural equation modelling for analysis of sustainable manufacturing factors in Indian automotive component sector," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(22), pages 6661-6682, November.
    14. Seif Obeid Al-Shbiel, 2016. "An Examination the Factors Influence on Unethical Behaviour among Jordanian external auditors: Job Satisfaction as a mediator," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 6(3), pages 285-296, July.
    15. Ana León-Gómez & José Manuel Santos-Jaén & Daniel Ruiz-Palomo & Mercedes Palacios-Manzano, 2022. "Disentangling the impact of ICT adoption on SMEs performance: the mediating roles of corporate social responsibility and innovation," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(3), pages 831-866, September.
    16. Kaur, Puneet & Dhir, Amandeep & Bodhi, Rahul & Singh, Tripti & Almotairi, Mohammad, 2020. "Why do people use and recommend m-wallets?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    17. Daniele, Bertolozzi-Caredio & Barbara, Soriano & Isabel, Bardaji & Alberto, Garrido, 2022. "Analysis of perceived robustness, adaptability and transformability of Spanish extensive livestock farms under alternative challenging scenarios," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    18. Xiaoxia Huang & Yuyin Liu & Jing Zhao, 2024. "The Impacts of Work-Family Conflict and Corporate Innovation on Organizational Performance," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.
    19. Gazi Md. Shakhawat Hossain & Md. Nayem Hossen & Md. Sharifur Rahman & Maruf Hasan, 2019. "Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Approach to Examining the Factors’ Affecting Work Life Balance among Female Teachers’: An Empirical Study," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 3(6), pages 140-152.
    20. Pilhyoun Yoon & Junghoon Leem, 2021. "The Influence of Social Presence in Online Classes Using Virtual Conferencing: Relationships between Group Cohesion, Group Efficacy, and Academic Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11012-:d:660477. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.