Any time and place? Digital emotional support for digital natives

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8713911
AutoresTyler Colasante (0000-0001-6513-2336, autor de correspondencia), Lauren Lin (0000-0001-6429-1941), Kalee De France (0000-0001-7987-7099), Tom Hollenstein (0000-0003-1888-3086)
Año2020
Volumen77
Número2
Páginas186-195
Fecha de publicación2020-09-24
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Psychologist (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0003-066X • E-ISSN: 1935-990X
EditorialAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/amp0000708
PMID32969678
OpenAlexW3088739152
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas12

Digital natives (i.e., those who have grown up in the digital age) are likely to receive emotional support through digital means, such as texting and video calling. However, virtually all studies assessing the benefits of emotional support have focused on in-person support; the relative efficacy of digital support remains unclear. This study assessed a sample of young adults' negative emotions, digital and in-person support for those emotions, and success in regulating them 3 times per day for 14 days (N = 164; 6,530 collective measurement occasions). Participants' social surroundings at the time of each negative emotion and trait levels of social avoidance were also considered. Digital support was expected to be received more often and perceived as more effective for regulating negative emotions when participants were alone and higher in social avoidance. However, with the exception of those higher in social avoidance receiving less digital (and in-person) support, digital support was received and perceived as effective regardless of these factors, and its perceived effectiveness was on par with that of in-person support. For digital natives, digital support may be just as effective as the "real thing" and its benefits may not be restricted to isolated or socially avoidant users. Findings are discussed in relation to the emotional consequences and social constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. If transcending the time and space limitations of in-person support with digital support is the new norm, the good news is that it seems to be working. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Developmental psychology · Emotional support · MEDLINE · Norm (philosophy · PsycINFO · Social media · Social support · Trait · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Psychology · Social and Behavioral Studies · Social Psychology