ABSTRACT

The current study explored diverse forms of social technology and their corresponding links to distress and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. A multinational sample of 302 adults in the United States, Mexico, and Japan self-reported on their use of various forms of social technology, psychological distress, and happiness. Results revealed cultural differences in the amount of social technology use (Mexicans highest, Japanese lowest). While total social technology use positively predicted both distress and happiness, specific forms of social technology differentially predicted distress and happiness. Videoconferencing was associated with lower distress and greater happiness, whereas social media was associated with greater distress and lower happiness. Findings also showed that the use of dating apps was a marginally significant negative predictor of both distress and happiness. These findings suggest that forms of social technology that better mirror in-person interaction may confer greater mental health benefits compared to those that are less naturalistic.

摘要

目前的研究探索了各种形式的社会技术及其与 COVID-19 大流行期间痛苦和幸福的相应联系。来自美国、墨西哥和日本的 302 名成年人的跨国样本自我报告了他们使用各种形式的社交技术、心理困扰和幸福感的情况。结果揭示了社交技术使用量的文化差异（墨西哥人最高，日本人最低）。虽然社会技术的总使用量对两者都有积极的预测痛苦和幸福，特定形式的社会技术不同地预测痛苦和幸福。视频会议与较低的痛苦和更大的幸福相关，而社交媒体与更大的痛苦和较低的幸福相关。调查结果还表明，约会应用程序的使用是痛苦和幸福的略微显着的负面预测因素。这些发现表明，与不那么自然的社交技术相比，能够更好地反映面对面互动的社交技术形式可能会带来更大的心理健康益处。