Exploring the links between perceptions of protection and control online and social connectedness among socially anxious youth

Article


Scott, Riley A., Stuart, Jaimee and Barber, Bonnie L.. 2023. "Exploring the links between perceptions of protection and control online and social connectedness among socially anxious youth." Psychology of Popular Media. 12 (3), pp. 354-363. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000416
Article Title

Exploring the links between perceptions of protection and control online and social connectedness among socially anxious youth

ERA Journal ID214009
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsScott, Riley A., Stuart, Jaimee and Barber, Bonnie L.
Journal TitlePsychology of Popular Media
Journal Citation12 (3), pp. 354-363
Number of Pages10
Year2023
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association
Place of PublicationUnited States
ISSN2160-4134
2160-4142
2689-6567
2689-6575
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000416
Web Address (URL)https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fppm0000416
Abstract

A growing area of research has begun to explore the opportunities that social media and the Internet provide for social connection. In contributing to this literature, the current study aimed to examine links between young adults’ perceptions of protection and control in the online environment, social Internet use, and social connectedness. Furthermore, as online communication has been suggested to be beneficial for those who are socially anxious, we tested social anxiety as a moderator of the aforementioned associations. A sample of Australian young adults (N = 687; 59.8% female; Mage = 19.45 years, SD = 2.07) were included in the study. A multigroup mediation model tested the effects of perceptions of protection and control online on social connectedness, via social Internet use, for groups of young adults classified as socially anxious, or low to moderate in social anxiety. For all young adults, social Internet use was positively associated with social connectedness, but there were key differences in the associations between Internet perceptions and social connectedness among young adults with and without social anxiety. For example, for socially anxious young adults, perceptions of control online were directly associated with lower social connectedness. Furthermore, although perceptions of protection online were linked to lower social connectedness of those without social anxiety, the negative effect was not significant for socially anxious young adults. These findings may have implications for clinical practice, and importantly, highlight links between perceptions of online contexts and connectedness that may be driven by social anxiety. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Keywordssocial anxiety; social internet use; Internet perceptions; social connectedness; young adulthood
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020470102. Communication technology and digital media studies
520599. Social and personality psychology not elsewhere classified
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Byline AffiliationsGriffith University
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