Living Through COVID-19: Social Distancing, Computer-Mediated Communication, and Well-Being in Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Adults

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered life for individuals worldwide. Specifically, at the time of data collection (late April 2020), most forms of face-to-face interactions were limited and, in some cases, prohibited, as close contact with others increases the rate of transmitting the virus. As social beings, engaging in social distancing may have negative consequences on well-being. However, many individuals maintained their social connections by means of computer-mediated communication (CMC), such as hosting FaceTime happy hours or family reunions. Utilizing a nationally representative sample of 985 adults from the United States, this study investigated the association between social distancing adherence and positive affect and the extent to which this association might be mediated by CMC frequency. Results did not indicate a direct effect of social distancing adherence on positive affect. However, an indirect effect between these two variables occurred when mediated by CMC frequency. Specifically, greater social distancing adherence predicted greater frequency of CMC, which predicted greater positive affect. These findings held controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, relationship status, and income. Results suggest that despite social distancing, CMC may be a beneficial way to engage with others during and, perhaps, beyond COVID-19.

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Computer-Mediated Communication and Mental Health

The Oxford Handbook of Digital Technology and Society ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190932596.013.4 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 78-110

Author(s):

Adrian Meier ◽

Emese Domahidi ◽

Elisabeth Günther

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Computer Mediated Communication ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Research ◽

Mediated Communication ◽

Disciplinary Boundaries ◽

Emerging Trends ◽

Computer Mediated ◽

The Relationship ◽

Systematic Database

The relationship between computer-mediated communication (e.g., Internet or social media use) and mental health has been a long-standing issue of debate. Various disciplines (e.g., communication, psychology, sociology, medicine) investigate computer-mediated communication in relation to a great variety of negative (i.e., psychopathology) and positive (i.e., well-being) markers of mental health. We aim at charting this vast, highly fragmented, and fast growing literature by means of a scoping review. Using methods of computational content analysis in conjunction with qualitative analyses, we map 20 years of research based on 1,780 study abstracts retrieved through a systematic database search. Results reveal the most common topics investigated in the field, as well as its disciplinary boundaries. Our review further highlights emerging trends in the literature and points to unique implications for how future research should address the various relationships between computer-mediated communication and mental health.

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Through a Screen Darkly: Use of Computer-Mediated Communication Predicts Emotional Functioning

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294119859779 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 123 (6) ◽

pp. 2305-2332 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sarah Myruski ◽

Jean M. Quintero ◽

Samantha Denefrio ◽

Tracy A. Dennis-Tiwary

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Emotional Functioning ◽

Computer Mediated Communication ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Report ◽

Emotion Detection ◽

Mediated Communication ◽

Face To Face ◽

Computer Mediated ◽

Facebook Use

Despite the pervasive use of computer-mediated communication, relatively little is known about its implications for emotional adjustment. Recent studies suggest that a preference for computer-mediated communication over other types of communication is associated with emotional vulnerabilities, and its active forms (e.g., direct communication) confer psychosocial benefits compared its passive forms (e.g., browsing Facebook). In this study, we simultaneously examined quality, quantity, and preferences for computer-mediated communication in relation to emotional competencies (emotion detection and regulation) and emotional well-being (self-report of mood and anxiety symptoms). In Study 1, participants ( N = 123) completed a facial morphing task, a computerized assessment of the speed and accuracy of emotion detection, and the Social Media and Communication Questionnaire assessing quantity and preferences to communicate via computer-mediated communication versus face-to-face. More use of computer-mediated communication along with preferring it for casual communication, was associated with faster and more accurate emotion detection. More use of computer-mediated communication, along with preferring it for positive communication and expressing distress, was associated with more difficulties with emotion regulation. Study 2 ( N = 32) added a task-based assessment of active and passive Facebook use in relation to measures of emotional functioning in Study 1. More active Facebook use was associated with greater emotional well-being, whereas more passive Facebook use was associated with less emotional well-being. Active and passive Facebook use was not significantly associated with self-report of broader computer-mediated communication preferences. Together, results suggest that greater use and preference for computer-mediated versus face-to-face communication may be related to heightened emotional sensitivity and more problems with emotion regulation, yet active versus passive use may serve to bolster emotional well-being.

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Perceptions of the influence of computer-mediated communication on the health and well-being of early adolescents

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being ◽

10.1080/17482631.2017.1335575 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 1335575 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Lindsay Favotto ◽

Valerie Michaelson ◽

Colleen Davison

Keyword(s):

Computer Mediated Communication ◽

Early Adolescents ◽

Well Being ◽

Mediated Communication ◽

Computer Mediated ◽

Health And Well Being

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Computer-Mediated Communication, Social Media, and Mental Health: A Conceptual and Empirical Meta-Review

Communication Research ◽

10.1177/0093650220958224 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 009365022095822

Author(s):

Adrian Meier ◽

Leonard Reinecke

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Evidence Synthesis ◽

Computer Mediated Communication ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Research ◽

Mediated Communication ◽

Interdisciplinary Field ◽

Computer Mediated ◽

Meta Review

Computer-mediated communication (CMC), and specifically social media, may affect the mental health (MH) and well-being of its users, for better or worse. Research on this topic has accumulated rapidly, accompanied by controversial public debate and numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Yet, a higher-level integration of the multiple disparate conceptual and operational approaches to CMC and MH and individual review findings is desperately needed. To this end, we first develop two organizing frameworks that systematize conceptual and operational approaches to CMC and MH. Based on these frameworks, we integrate the literature through a meta-review of 34 reviews and a content analysis of 594 publications. Meta-analytic evidence, overall, suggests a small negative association between social media use and MH. However, effects are complex and depend on the CMC and MH indicators investigated. Based on our conceptual review and the evidence synthesis, we devise an agenda for future research in this interdisciplinary field.

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Online Self-Disclosure Behaviors

Encyclopedia of Cyber Behavior ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-0315-8.ch072 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 873-884

Author(s):

Holly H. Schiffrin ◽

Melissa Falkenstern

Keyword(s):

Interpersonal Relationships ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Personal Information ◽

Computer Mediated Communication ◽

Well Being ◽

Large Impact ◽

Mediated Communication ◽

Self Disclosure ◽

Computer Mediated ◽

The Impact

Self-disclosure, the sharing of personal information between communication partners, has long been a topic of interest due to the large impact it plays in the development of interpersonal relationships (Altman & Taylor, 1973). As the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) has increased, so has the interest in the impact it may have on self-disclosure and relationship development. Several theories have been posited to explain the impact that the medium of communication has on self-disclosure. Although some theories have predicted a negative impact of CMC on self-disclosure (Daft & Lengel, 1986; Kock, 2005), several researchers have found that CMC increases self-disclosure (McKenna & Bargh, 2000; Valkenberg & Peter, 2009a; Walther, 1996). This article discusses the main theories that explain the nature of online self-disclosure, the possible mechanisms by which CMC serves to increase self-disclosure, and impact that online self-disclosure has on interpersonal relationships and well-being.

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Put the Phone Down

Social Psychological and Personality Science ◽

10.1177/1948550617722199 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 702-710 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Kostadin Kushlev ◽

Samantha J. Heintzelman

Keyword(s):

Social Interactions ◽

Social Life ◽

Sampling Method ◽

Computer Mediated Communication ◽

Well Being ◽

Mediated Communication ◽

Face To Face ◽

Computer Mediated ◽

Complementarity Hypothesis ◽

Interference Hypothesis

If there ever was a key to happiness, this key would open a door that leads straight to a rich social life. And in the era of smartphones, this key to social connection is in our pockets anytime and anywhere. Or is it? Using the experience sampling method (ESM), we explore the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) in the context of face-to-face (FtF) social interactions, testing two competing hypotheses: (1) a complementarity hypothesis stating that more channels of communication should be associated with higher well-being and (2) an interference hypothesis stating that FtF interactions could be impoverished by adding computer-mediated channels of communication. We surveyed 174 millennials ( Mage = 19.28; range: 17–22) 5 times a day over a period of a week (4,508 episodes). When participants reported a mix of CMC and FtF socializing in the same episode, they felt worse and less connected than when solely interacting FtF.

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