Disembodiment in Online Social Interaction
Disembodiment in Online Social Interaction: Impact of Online Chat on Social Support and Psychosocial Well-Being
Cyberpsychology & Behaviour, Jun 2007, Vol. 10, No. 3 : 475 -477
Seok Kang, Ph.D.
This study investigates how disembodiment—that is, transcendence of body constraints in cyberspace—in online chat affects social psychological well-being. The results demonstrate that disembodiment is a strong predictor of increased loneliness and depression, and decreased social support. However, the amount of chat use is a positive contributor to decreased offline estrangement and depression, and increased happiness. These contrasting results suggest that online chat use is a technology for social connection used for offline connectivity, but the disembodiment motive is associated with declines in social support and psychosocial well-being. The investigation of specified motives for online interaction, personal competency, or advanced technological alternatives in interaction is suggested for future research on the effects of online interaction on offline outcomes.
Source: Disembodiment in Online Social Interaction
Originally published on Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:18:12 GMT by Andrea Gaggioli