Date of Award

Summer 2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Committee Director

Barbara Winstead

Committee Member

Robin J. Lewis

Committee Member

Mark W. Scerbo

Abstract

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.

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In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ 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).

DOI

10.25777/91vv-cg92

ISBN

9781303994142

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