Long-distance texting: Text messaging is linked with higher relationship satisfaction in long-distance relationships

Holtzman, Susan; Kushlev, Kostadin; Woźny, A.; Godard, Rebecca

doi:10.1177/02654075211043296

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…Furthermore, compared with previous studies supporting the positive effects of Internet usage [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 87 , 89 ], we also find heterogeneities in its impact from multiple perspectives. It is clear that not everyone gains equally from Internet use.…”

Section: Theoretical and Practical Implicationscontrasting

confidence: 46%

“…The Internet has greatly reduced both the time and money needed for instant communication, narrowed the distances between people, and made simultaneous communication affordable. For example, compared with telephone calls, Internet-based voice calls and online meetings cost much less in time and money for people to communicate [ 14 , 88 ].…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This paper clarifies the net effect of Internet usage on interpersonal communications. Research has shown that Internet technology has tremendously enriched communication channels and modes [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 87 , 89 ]. Moreover, compared with traditional communication methods, such as phone calls and text messages, the Internet helps people to establish a much wider social network and achieve effective remote communication at a lower cost, as well as with greater efficiency [ 69 , 70 , 90 , 101 ].…”

Section: Theoretical and Practical Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, traditional communication technologies can only transmit information via voice and text messages and have the drawback of high cost. The Internet has greatly reduced the cost of communications, shortened the distances between disparate groups, and has even made it possible for people to meet via video conferencing [ 14 ]. In addition, Internet technologies have brought a variety of emerging communication platforms, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Zoom, and WeChat, helping people to communicate more conveniently at a much lower cost [ 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Does the Internet Bring People Closer Together or Further Apart? The Impact of Internet Usage on Interpersonal Communications

Ning

Xia

et al. 2022

Behavioral Sciences

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The complementarity interference (CI) model suggests that the Internet may either inhibit or facilitate interpersonal communications. This paper empirically examines the impact of Internet usage on interpersonal interactions, using a micro dataset from China to answer whether the Internet brings people closer together or further apart. The empirical results demonstrate, first, that Internet usage significantly increases both the time and frequency of people’s communications with their family and friends, rather than causing them to feel more disconnected and isolated. Holding other factors constant, for each one-standard-deviation increase in Internet usage, weekly communications with family members increases by an average of 102.150 min, while there is an average increase of 54.838 min in interactions with friends. These findings as to its positive effects are robust when using other regression models and interpersonal contact measures, as well as the instrumental variable method. Second, Internet usage also contributes to decreased loneliness; it exerts this effect primarily by improving people’s interactions with their family members. However, communications with friends do not significantly mediate such impacts. Third, the positive role of Internet usage on communications is more prominent for people with more frequent online socialization and self-presentation, better online skills, younger age, higher educational level, and who are living in urban areas. In addition, the beneficial effects of Internet usage are larger for communications with family members in the case of migrants. Therefore, in the context of the rapid development of information technology, the network infrastructure should be improved to make better use of the Internet to facilitate interpersonal communications and promote people’s wellness.

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Section: Theoretical and Practical Implicationscontrasting

confidence: 46%

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theoretical and Practical Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Does the Internet Bring People Closer Together or Further Apart? The Impact of Internet Usage on Interpersonal Communications

Ning

Xia

et al. 2022

Behavioral Sciences

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“…Finally, the Complementarity Hypothesis posits that phone use will relate to well-being to the extent that it provides information or opportunities not otherwise available. For example, using a phone to stay in touch with others who are not geographically close would relate to higher levels of well-being ( Neustaedter and Greenberg, 2012 ; Hampton et al, 2017 ; Holtzman et al, 2021 ). It is also possible, though, that complementary phone use would relate to lower levels of well-being if it allows for greater access to information or engagement in activities that are harmful to well-being, such as access to disturbing news stories or receiving negative feedback on a social media post.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Did smartphones enhance or diminish well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Heyman

Kushlev²

2023

Front. Psychol.

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IntroductionAs smartphones have become increasingly integrated into people’s lives, researchers have attempted to answer whether they are beneficial or detrimental to well-being. Of particular interest to the current study is the role that smartphones played during the first year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.MethodsIn an intensive longitudinal study, we explore how varying uses of smartphones relate to well-being using the Displacement-Interference-Complementarity framework.ResultsConsistent with pre-pandemic research, we show that people felt better, calmer, and more energetic when they used their phones more for complementary purposes (i.e., to access information, entertainment, and connection not otherwise available). In contrast to most pre-pandemic research, however, we find no evidence that any type of phone use predicted lower well-being during the pandemic.DiscussionOverall, this study lends support to the idea that smartphones can be beneficial for individuals, particularly during times when face-to-face interaction is limited.

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