Purpose: This research investigates the relationship between
communication beliefs and social interest mediated by
differentiation of self in students.
Materials and Methods: The research is correlative of the
structural equation using PLS software which is conducted via a
survey type method. All students at Islamic Azad University,
Khomeini Shahar Unit (from 2019 to 2020) comprised the statistical
population. The sampling method was random clustering with the
total samples amounting to 300 people. The subjects responded to
the Skowron & Friedlander (1998)’s Differentiation of Self
Inventory (DSI), Adelson & Epstein (1982)’s Communication
Standardized Beliefs Questionnaire, and Greever et al.’s Social
Interest Scale (1973.)
Findings: The model test indicated that the direct effects of
communication beliefs on social interest had been rejected;
however, considering the significant effects of communication
beliefs on differentiation of self and differentiation of self on social
interests, the mediating role of differentiation of self in the
relationship between communication beliefs and social interest was
confirmed (p> 0.05), with the indirect effect intensity at 0.053.
Accordingly, communication beliefs were found to only have an
indirect effect on social interest.
Conclusion: This research demonstrated that increasing
differentiation of self could improve communication beliefs and
promote social interests