Depression, Social Anxiety, and Attachment as Predictors of the Use and Quality of Cyber Communication

<p>This study examined the influence of depression symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, and adult attachment style on the use and the perceptions of the quality of cyber communications with close friends, romantic partners, and family members. One hundred thirty-five individuals completed an initial survey, with sixty five of the original group completing a follow-up survey five weeks later. Results indicated that anxious attachment was associated with a greater reported usage of social networking sites, whereas avoidant attachment predicted less instant message use over time. Depression symptoms and avoidant attachment were generally associated with perceptions of higher negativity and lower positivity with some of the target groups, where as social anxiety symptoms were generally associated with perceptions of more positive interactions. These findings indicate that depression symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, and attachment are differentially associated with quantity and perceived quality of use of cyber communication. Implications for understanding the relationship between psychological symptoms and problematic interpersonal behavior via social networking, activities are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• LaTulip, Stefan E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Barbara Winstead
• Robin J. Lewis
• Mark W. Scerbo

• Anxiety
• Attachment
• Communication
• Depression
• Online
• Communication Technology and New Media
• Experimental Analysis of Behavior
• Social Psychology

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Identifier

9781303994142

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:psychology_etds-1156