The Relationship between Instagram Usage and Positive Youth Development (7Cs) among Kurdish Students in Iran: A Quantitative Study

Instagram plays a central role in youth lives across Asia and the Middle East, offering opportunities for cultural expression amid restrictive environments. This study examines how Instagram use relates to Positive Youth Development (PYD) among 410 Kurdish university students in Iran, focusing on seven developmental assets (7Cs: confidence, competence, connection, character, caring, creativity, and contribution). Using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis, results show that Instagram intensity enhances creativity and contribution but has limited effects on other assets. Life purpose strongly predicts PYD outcomes, reflecting tensions between personal growth and social constraints, highlighting Instagram as both an identity space and a site shaped by censorship.