How Do Social Media Impact Interpersonal Communication Competence?

The current study examines the role of psycho-social individual characteristics, social media motives, and social media use as predictors of interpersonal communication competence (ICC). Applying the uses and gratifications theoretical framework, this research seeks to explore the potential effects of social media use related to the second digital generation (2DG), or those born after 1990. A cross-sectional study design, surveying 373 college students ages 18-24 years, found that offline social capital, interpersonal interaction, and social activity were direct, positive predictors of ICC. Social media motives and use contributed a small but significant portion of explained variance in the model, above and beyond effects of psycho-social characteristics. Specifically, members of the 2DG who use social media to compensate for offline loneliness, as well as those who were more dependent on social media to fulfill a variety of needs reported lower ICC. Limitations and directions for future research are also offered.

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Puff or pass: do social media and social interactions influence smoking behaviour of university students? A cross-sectional mixed methods study from Dhaka, Bangladesh

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038372 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. e038372

Author(s):

Naym Uddin Roby ◽

M Tasdik Hasan ◽

Sahadat Hossain ◽

Enryka Christopher ◽

Md Kapil Ahmed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

University Students ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Media Use ◽

Smoking Initiation ◽

Smoking Behaviour ◽

Future Research ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional

ObjectiveTo determine whether the odds of being a smoker differ based on social media use and social interactions among urban university students in Bangladesh.HypothesisSocial media use and social interactions influence the smoking behaviour of Bangladeshi university students, particularly in starting and maintaining cigarette smoking.Design and settingA cross-sectional study using mixed methods on 600 student smokers and non-smokers recruited from two public and two private universities in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a lower middle-income country with limited resources. Exclusion criteria were those who did not use any form of social media and PhD students.ResultsOdds of smoking were significantly higher for those who socialised more than 4 hours/day (p<0.05; OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.12 to 2.75) and typically at night (p<0.05; OR 2.80; 95% CI 1.95 to 4.00). Odds of smoking were also higher for those who liked (p<0.05; OR 4.85; 95% CI 3.32 to 7.11), shared (p<0.05; OR 20.50; 95% CI 13.02 to 32.26) and followed (p<0.05; OR 2.88; 95% CI 1.36 to 6.11) tobacco-related content on social media. Qualitative analysis resulted in emergent themes of smokers imitating tobacco-related photos or videos seen on social media and peers as an influence for smoking initiation.ConclusionThis study suggests social media and social interactions may influence smoking behaviour in university students in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Future research should continue to investigate the roles social media and social interaction have on smoking in order to explore social media-based smoking cessation interventions or dissemination of smoking health hazards through social media.

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Social Media Use Among Young People in China: A Systematic Literature Review

SAGE Open ◽

10.1177/21582440211016421 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 215824402110164

Author(s):

Lian Tang ◽

Siti Zobidah Omar ◽

Jusang Bolong ◽

Julia Wirza Mohd Zawawi

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Young People ◽

Literature Review ◽

Systematic Literature Review ◽

Media Use ◽

Academic Research ◽

Future Research ◽

Research Topics ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Systematic Analysis

The widespread use of social media has promoted extensive academic research on this channel. The present study conducts a systematic analysis of extant research on social media use among young people in China. This systematic literature review aims to identify and bridge gaps in topics, theories, variables, and conceptual frameworks in studies of social media usage among young people in China. The study aims to develop a cause–effect framework that shows the causal relationships among research structures. The PRISMA method is used to review 20 articles drawn from the Scopus and Google Scholar databases. From the analysis, 10 major research topics, eight theories or models, and a complete framework of causal relations emerge. It is recommended that future research on social media should include a greater diversity of types of social media, investigate a wider range of research topics, and adopt different theories or models. Researchers should also implement a more complete and detailed systematic method for reviewing literature on social media research in China.

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Loneliness and Its Association With Social Media Use During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Social Media + Society ◽

10.1177/20563051211033821 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 205630512110338

Author(s):

Tore Bonsaksen ◽

Mary Ruffolo ◽

Janni Leung ◽

Daicia Price ◽

Hilde Thygesen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Online Survey ◽

Media Use ◽

Age Groups ◽

The United States ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Social And Emotional ◽

Emotional Loneliness ◽

Social Loneliness

Social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic changed social interaction for many and increased the risk of loneliness in the general population. Social media use has been ambiguously related to loneliness, and associations may differ by age. The study aimed to examine loneliness and its association with social media use within different age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia during April/May 2020, and 3,810 participants aged 18 years or above were recruited. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between social media use and social and emotional loneliness within separate age groups. Emotional loneliness was higher among young adults and among those who used social media several times daily. Adjusting by sociodemographic variables, using more types of social media was associated with lower social loneliness among the oldest participants, and with higher emotional loneliness among the youngest participants. Among middle-aged participants, using social media more frequently was associated with lower social loneliness. We found that the associations between social media use and loneliness varied by age. Older people’s engagement on social media may be a resource to reduce loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. We observed higher levels of loneliness among high-frequent social media users of younger age.

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The Influence of Social Media use on Practice of Covid-19 Preventive Measures Among Ethiopian Residents: An Online Cross-Sectional Study

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2021.184 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Abinet Arega Sadore ◽

Demelash Woldeyohannes Handiso ◽

Tekle Ejajo Wontamo ◽

Dejene Ermias Mekango ◽

Sisay Moges

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Media Use ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Preventive Practice ◽

Related Information ◽

Study Participants

Abstract Background: Infection with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a severe public health issue worldwide. A broad amount of information related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was disseminated by social media in Ethiopia. To date, there is limited evidence on the influence of social media use for covid-19 related information on covid-19 preventive practice. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the influence of social media use on the practice of COVID-19 preventive measures in Ethiopia. Methods: This study employed an anonymous internet-based online cross-sectional survey using Google forms to collects the data from the respondents from 15 May to 17 June 2020 in Ethiopia. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between social media usage as a predictor and COVID-19 preventive practice, after adjusting for socio-demographic and risk perception of COVID-19 variables. The data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Results: A total of 372 respondents have participated in the study. From 372, 208(55.9%) respondents in this study were male. Study participants who had good utilization of social media to get COVID-19 related information were 9.5 times engaged in COVID-19 preventive practices compared to study participants who had poor utilization of social media to get covid-19 related information (AOR= 9.59, 95% CI = 5.70 - 16.13). Also, study participants who had a high-risk perception of COVID-19 were 2.6 times engaged in COVID-19 practices compared to study participants who had a low-risk perception of covid-19 (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.58 - 4.38). Study participants who were students at the time of this study were four times more likely to show adequate COVID-19 preventive practice score compared to those who had another occupational status (AOR= 4.07, 95% CI= 1.66 - 9.98) Conclusions: Our results show that the usage of social media networks can have a positive effect on the practice of preventive measures and public safety against COVID-19; high-risk perception contributed to preventive activities against COVID-19. Social networking platforms can be used by public health agencies as an important method to raise public health understanding by disseminating concise messages to targeted audiences.

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Divergent effects of social media use on meaning in life via loneliness and existential isolation during the coronavirus pandemic

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/02654075211066922 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 026540752110669

Author(s):

Peter J. Helm ◽

Tyler Jimenez ◽

Madhwa S. Galgali ◽

Megan E. Edwards ◽

Kenneth E. Vail ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Social Media ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Media Use ◽

The United States ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Media Usage ◽

Emotional Loneliness

Stay-at-home orders issued to combat the growing number of infections during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 had many psychological consequences for people including elevated stress, anxiety, and difficulty maintaining meaning in their lives. The present studies utilized cross-sectional designs and were conducted to better understand how social media usage related to people’s subjective isolation (i.e., social loneliness, emotional loneliness, and existential isolation) and meaning in life (MIL) during the early months of the pandemic within the United States. Study 1 found that general social media use indirectly predicted higher MIL via lower existential isolation and social isolation. Study 2 replicated these patterns and found that social media use also predicted lower MIL via higher emotional loneliness, and that the aforementioned effects occurred with active, but not passive, social media use. Findings suggest social media use may be a viable means to validate one’s experiences (i.e., reduce existential isolation) during the pandemic but may also lead to intensified feelings concerning missing others (i.e., increased emotional loneliness). This research also helps to identify potential divergent effects of social media on MIL and helps to clarify the relationships among varying types of subjective isolation.

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U.S. adolescents’ mental health and COVID-19-related changes in technology use, Fall 2020

10.1101/2021.03.15.21253598 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Taylor A. Burke ◽

Emily R. Kutok ◽

Shira Dunsiger ◽

Nicole R. Nugent ◽

John V. Patena ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Technology Use ◽

Media Use ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Future Research ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Media And Technology ◽

School Status

Preliminary reports suggest that during COVID-19, adolescents’ mental health has worsened while technology and social media use has increased. Much data derives from early in the pandemic, when schools were uniformly remote and personal/family stressors related to the pandemic were limited. This cross-sectional study, conducted during Fall 2020, examines the correlation between mental wellbeing and COVID-19-related changes in technology use, along with influence of COVID-19-related stressors, school status (in-person versus remote), and social media use for coping purposes, among 978 U.S. adolescents. Results suggest self-reported daily social media and technology use increased significantly from prior to COVID-19 through Fall 2020. Increased social media use was significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms regardless of other theoretical moderators or confounders of mental health (e.g., demographics, school status, importance of technology, COVID-19-related stress). Despite literature suggesting that remote learning may result in adverse mental health outcomes, we did not find local school reopening to be associated with current depressive/anxiety symptoms, nor with COVID-19-related increases in technology use. Self-reported use of social media for coping purposes moderated the association between increased social media use and mental health symptoms; in other words, some social media use may have positive effects. Although much prior research has focused on social media use as a marker of stress, we also found that increased video gaming and TV/movie watching were also associated with internalizing symptoms, in accordance with others' work. Future research should explore in more granular detail what, if any, social media and technology use is protective during a pandemic, and for whom, to help tailor prevention efforts.

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The “anti-vax” movement: a quantitative report on vaccine beliefs and knowledge across social media

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-12114-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Staci L Benoit ◽

Rachel F. Mauldin

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Media Use ◽

Knowledge Score ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Knowledge And Beliefs ◽

Twitter Users ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

Vaccine Information

Abstract Background Social media use has become a mainstay of communication and with that comes the exchange of factual and non-factual information. Social media has given many people the opportunity to speak their opinions without repercussions and create coalitionS of like-minded people. This also has led to the development of a community know as anti-vaxxers or vaccine deniers. This research explores the extent to which vaccine knowledge has reached on social media. Methods This cross sectional research explored the relationship between the spread of information regarding vaccines in relation to social media use. A sample of 2515 people over the age of 18 around the world completed the survey via a link distributed on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. A series of questions on vaccine knowledge and beliefs were compounded to create an individual’s “knowledge score” and a “belief score”. Knowledge scores were ranked from low knowledge to high knowledge with increasing scores. Belief scores were ranked from belief in myths to disbelief in myths with higher scores. This score was then analysed, using a Welch test and post hoc testing when applicable, across demographics and questions relating to social media use. Results Significant relations were found in both the knowledge and belief categories, many of which were similar findings between the two. North Americans had significantly lower knowledge and belief scores compared to all other continents. While the majority of people primarily use Facebook, Twitter users were significantly more knowledgeable. It was also found that higher education was correlated with higher knowledge and belief scores. Conclusions Overall, these correlations are important in determining ways to intervene into the anti-vax movement through the use of social media. Cross demographics were not analysed in this study but could be in future studies. To better understand the social media exposures related to vaccine information a follow up structured interview research study would be beneficial. Note that due to the cross sectional nature of this study, causal relationships could not be made.

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Physical Activity and Attitudes Toward Social Media Use of Active Individuals During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Survey

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.707921 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Mezna A. AlMarzooqi

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Media ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Media Use ◽

Real Life ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Physically Active ◽

Social Media Platforms

Background: Social media became an integral part of the lives of people because it encourages social relations and shares interests, activities, and real-life connections. As quarantine and lockdown orders are prolonged, many people, as well as those physically active individuals, typically responded to this stressful condition by using social media platforms.Objective: This study aimed to examine the level of physical activity of physically active individuals and their attitudes toward social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among physically active individuals in Saudi Arabia between June 2020 and July 2020. An online survey was employed among eligible participants who completed a self-administered questionnaire that covered reasons for physical activity and attitudes toward social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: Of these 323 participants, 29.1% were in the age group of 18–24 years, 66.6% were women, and 67.8% were single. The proportion of participants whose metabolic equivalent of tasks-min/week from vigorous activity <1,680 was 31.9%, and all of the participants follow people or pages in social media related to sports teams and fitness models. The average number of hours spent on social media per day was 2.95 ± 0.90 h. The majority of the participants showed positive attitudes toward social media used for exercise and physical activity. Of the eight variables, age, level of physical activity, and the average of hours spent on social media emerged as significant predictors of attitudes toward the use of social media (P < 0.05).Conclusions: The present survey results indicate adverse consequences of home quarantine as reflected by a small proportion of participants who had differences in levels of vigorous activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Social media appears to be a key avenue to promote and disseminate health interventions to promote physical activity during this COVID-19 pandemic.

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How Social Are Social Media? A Review of Online Social Behaviour and Connectedness

Journal of Relationships Research ◽

10.1017/jrr.2017.13 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Tracii Ryan ◽

Kelly A. Allen ◽

DeLeon L. Gray ◽

Dennis M. McInerney

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Social Media ◽

Social Behaviour ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Media Use ◽

Future Research ◽

Social Media Use ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

Key Aspects

The use of social media is rapidly increasing, and one of the major discussions of the 21st century revolves around how the use of these applications will impact on the social relationships of users. To contribute to this discussion, we present a brief narrative review highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of social media use on three key aspects of social connectedness: social capital, sense of community, and loneliness. The results indicate that using social media can increase social capital, lead to the formation of friendships and communities, and reduce loneliness. However, some social media site users may experience weakening friendships, online ostracism, and heightened loneliness. Therefore, we argue that the use of social media has contradictory effects on social connectedness. Moreover, the direction of these outcomes is contingent upon who is using the site and how they are using it. Based on these arguments, possible directions for future research are discussed. It is recommended that discourse be continued relating to the association between online social behaviour and connectedness, as this will enable researchers to establish whether the positive outcomes of social media use outweigh the negative.

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The social media political participation model: A goal systems theory perspective

Convergence The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies ◽

10.1177/1354856517750366 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 135-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Johannes Knoll ◽

Jörg Matthes ◽

Raffael Heiss

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Political Participation ◽

Systems Theory ◽

Media Use ◽

Future Research ◽

Psychological Processes ◽

Social Media Use ◽

The Social ◽

Goal Systems ◽

Use Of Social Media

Although studies suggest that the use of social media can promote political participation (PP), there is a lack of theorizing about the psychological processes underlying this relationship. This article attempts to fill this gap by suggesting a social media political participation model. Taking a goal systemic perspective, the model specifies a set of interrelated processes that need to be realized so that social media use affects PP. Furthermore, key contingent conditions are outlined and insights into fostering PP are offered. The article explains ways of testing the model with surveys and experiments. Implications for future research are discussed.

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