Modeling Structural Relationships of Meta-Cognitive Situations with Tendency to Virtual Networks through Mediating of Emotional Processing in Gifted Students

Background: Cyberspace covers many aspects of human life and tendency to cyberspace can be influenced by cognitive and emotional dimensions. Thus, the aim of this study was modeling structural relationships of meta-cognitive situations with tendency for virtual networks through mediating emotional processing in gifted students. Methods: The research method was descriptive-correlation and in particular structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the present study was all 300 gifted students of Secondary School Sampad Secondary School in 11 experimental fields in the academic year of 2019 in Gorgan. Mojardi, et al (2014) tendency to virtual networks questionnaire, Onil & Abedi (1996) meta-cognitive situations questionnaire and California Test Personality (CTP) were evaluated. Regression equations with SPSS 18 and 23Amos software were used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that there is a significant negative relationship between meta-cognitive situations and emotional processing with tendency for virtual networks. The research model was fitted and validated and explained 0.330 of variance in tendency for virtual networks by meta-cognitive situations. Emotional processing had a mediating role in the relationship between meta-cognitive situations with tendency for virtual networks. Conclusion: Changes in the tendency for cyberspace based on direct meta-cognitive situations and indirect emotional processing can be explained in gifted students and this study has practical implications for school counselors.