The relation between face‐to‐face and digital interactions and self‐esteem: A daily diary study. Issue 2 (24th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Subrahmanyam, Kaveri; Frison, Eline; Michikyan, Minas
• Is Part Of: Human behavior and emerging technologies. Volume 2:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 116
• Page End: 127
• Publication Date: 2020-03-24
• Subjects: daily diary study -- face‐to‐face interactions -- self‐esteem -- social anxiety -- social media -- text messaging; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Technological innovations -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Human-computer interaction -- Periodicals; 303.48305
• DOI: 10.1002/hbe2.187
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2578-1863

Abstract

Abstract: Although young people's face‐to‐face and digital social interactions have been frequently examined in relation to their psychological well‐being, few studies have considered how day‐to‐day variations in digital social interactions relate to fluctuations in self‐esteem. To fill this gap, this study used a daily diary method over a five‐day period to examine the same‐day and lagged‐day associations between the quantity and quality of social interactions (i.e., face‐to‐face vs. digital) and self‐esteem in a diverse sample of young adults ( N = 219; 51% women, 49% men; M age = 21). Additionally, this study also investigated the moderating role of social anxiety on this relation. Over a five‐day period, participants completed a daily diary checklist at the end of each day and reported on their social interactions (i.e., quantity and quality) and self‐esteem for that day. Results showed that the quality of interactions via face‐to‐face settings and text messaging as well as the quantity and quality of interactions via social media were positively associated with self‐esteem. Only the quality of face‐to‐face interactions on the prior day positively predicted self‐esteem on a given day. Social anxiety moderated the same‐day associations between quality of interactions via face‐to‐face and text messaging, and self‐esteem. Findings suggest that only high‐quality face‐to‐face interactions may be associated with longer lasting gains to psychological well‐being. The implications of these exploratory findings for our understanding of the role of emerging technologies are discussed.