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Interpersonal Media and Face-to-Face Communication: Relationship with Life Satisfaction and Loneliness
Jeffrey A Hall1, Jess Dominguez1, Teodora Mihailova1
1Communication Studies Department, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS USA.
Journal of Happiness Studies
|November 21, 2022
Summary
Maintaining close relationships through frequent face-to-face and voice call interactions boosts life satisfaction and reduces loneliness. Living alone, however, poses significant risks to well-being.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Communication Studies
- Gerontology
Background:
- The need to belong is a fundamental human motivation influencing social connections.
- Understanding factors that contribute to life satisfaction and loneliness is crucial for public health.
- Previous research has explored various aspects of social relationships, but the interplay of communication modality, proximity, and relationship quantity requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how communication modality, geographic proximity, and the number of close relationships predict life satisfaction and loneliness.
- To investigate the mediating roles of relationship maintenance satisfaction and frustration in the relationship between communication and well-being.
Main Methods:
- A quota sample of 1,869 American adults participated.
- Participants completed name generation tasks to identify up to 16 close relationship partners (alters).
- Data were collected on communication frequency (in-person and via eight media) with each alter and measures of life satisfaction and loneliness.
Main Results:
- The number of relationship partners and frequency of face-to-face interaction were strong predictors of both life satisfaction and loneliness.
- Individuals living alone reported significantly lower well-being.
- Frequent video chat and voice calls were associated with higher life satisfaction.
- Voice calls indirectly reduced loneliness by enhancing relationship maintenance satisfaction.
- Lean media communication indirectly increased loneliness through relationship maintenance frustration.
Conclusions:
- Maintaining a sufficient number of close relationships and engaging in frequent in-person communication are vital for well-being.
- Technology-mediated communication, particularly voice and video calls, can positively impact life satisfaction.
- The quality of relationship maintenance, influenced by communication methods, plays a key role in mitigating loneliness.
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