Searching for self and relationships online.
The purpose of this project was to study how Internet use relates to psychological well-being, relationships, the self and identity. University students (N = 203) completed a battery of questionnaires including measures of time spent online, "pathological" Internet use, Internet motivation, loneliness, relationship quality, self-concept clarity, and ego identity. Results showed positive relationships between measures of Internet use and loneliness. As well, face-to-face relationships were rated higher on both positive and negative quality dimensions relative to online relationships. Finally, Internet use was negatively correlated with self-concept clarity, and associated with moratorium identity status. These results suggest that the Internet may be an important aid for young adults as they searched for an adult identity.
Matsuba
M Kyle
MK
Psychology Department, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. matsubak@unbc.ca
D000328:Adult; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D012933:Social Identification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires