article

A longitudinal study of the relation between adolescent boys and girls' computer use with friends and friendship quality: Support for the social compensation or the rich-get-richer hypothesis?

Authors:

Malinda Desjarlais,

Teena WilloughbyAuthors Info & Claims

Computers in Human Behavior, Volume 26, Issue 5

Pages 896 - 905

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2010.02.004

Published: 01 September 2010 Publication History

Abstract

Using computers with friends either in person or online has become ubiquitous in the life of most adolescents; however, little is known about the complex relation between this activity and friendship quality. This study examined direct support for the social compensation and rich-get-richer hypotheses among adolescent girls and boys by including social anxiety as a moderating factor. A sample of 1050 adolescents completed a survey in grade 9 and then again in grades 11 and 12. For girls, there was a main effect of using computers with friends on friendship quality; providing support for both hypotheses. For adolescent boys, however, social anxiety moderated this relation, supporting the social compensation hypothesis. These findings were identical for online communication and were stable throughout adolescence. Furthermore, participating in organized sports did not compensate for social anxiety for either adolescent girls or boys. Therefore, characteristics associated with using computers with friends may create a comfortable environment for socially anxious adolescents to interact with their peers which may be distinct from other more traditional adolescent activities.

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cover image Computers in Human Behavior

Computers in Human Behavior Volume 26, Issue 5

September, 2010

439 pages

ISSN:0747-5632

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © Elsevier Ltd © 2010.

Publisher

Elsevier Science Publishers B. V.

Netherlands

Publication History

Published: 01 September 2010

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Horng SWu C(2022)Social Commerce Intention, Social Interaction, and Social SupportJournal of Organizational and End User Computing10.4018/JOEUC.30756534:1(1-23)Online publication date: 21-Jul-2022
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Marciano LSchulz PCamerini A(2022)How do depression, duration of internet use and social connection in adolescence influence each other over time? An extension of the RI-CLPM including contextual factorsComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2022.107390136:COnline publication date: 16-Aug-2022
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Snodgrass JBagwell APatry JDengah HSmarr-Foster CVan Oostenburg MLacy M(2018)The partial truths of compensatory and poor-get-poorer internet use theoriesComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2017.09.02078:C(10-25)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2018
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