The perceived quality of social interactions differs by modality and purpose

An event-contingent experience sampling study with older adults

Bibliographic Data

ID2930867
AuthorsGizem Hülür (0000-0002-9225-3878, University of Bonn, corresponding author), M Luo (0000-0003-3179-212X, University Research Priority Program “Dynamics of Healthy Aging”, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland), Birthe Macdonald (0000-0002-1927-6117, University Research Priority Program “Dynamics of Healthy Aging”, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland), Carlotta E Grünjes (University of Bonn), Carlotta Grünjes (0000-0003-4088-3023, University of Bonn)
Year2024
Volume41
Issue4
Pages794-821
Publication date2024-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/02654075231215269
OpenAlexW4388686966
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited71

Older adults increasingly use digital technologies to communicate with others. The goal of the present study is to understand the role of interaction modality for the perceived quality of social interactions. We use data from 118 participants (age: M = 72 years, SD = 5, range = 65 to 94; 40% women), who reported on their social interactions (quality [valence, social relatedness, calmness, meaningfulness], modality [face-to-face in-person, telephone, text-based digital], and purposes [e.g., small talk, conflict]) over 21 days in an event-contingent experience sampling study that took place between April and November 2019. Text-based communication was rated lower in valence and social relatedness relative to face-to-face communication and telephone calls, and lower in meaningfulness relative to telephone calls. Face-to-face and telephone communication only differed in meaningfulness, with telephone calls being rated higher. Some of the associations between interaction modality and perceived quality were moderated by interaction purpose. For example, conflicts were perceived more negatively as indicated by lower valence, social relatedness, and calmness when they were carried out by text messages (vs. face-to-face or by telephone). Conflicts were rated higher in valence when they took place by telephone versus face-to-face. In summary, our findings suggest that the modality of daily social interactions plays an important role for their quality. We discuss implications of these findings for increasing well-being and social connectedness through technology-mediated communication

Calmness · Computer-mediated communication · Developmental psychology · Face-to-face · Face-to-face interaction · Interpersonal communication · Modality (human–computer interaction · Social connectedness · Social relation · Valence (chemistry · Aging and Gerontology Research · Communication · Computer Science · Health disparities and outcomes · Psychology · Social Psychology · Technology Use by Older Adults