Comparing the effects of face-to-face, telephone and computer-mediated communications on self disclosure and emotional wellbeing.

• Main Author: Yew, Chen Foong.
• Other Authors: Lee Sau-Lai
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology::Affection and emotion; DRNTU::Social sciences::Communication; DRNTU::Social sciences::Mass media
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/43699
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

As computer-mediated communication increases in prominence and popularity, little is known about its effectiveness in improving emotional wellbeing compared to existing face-to-face and telephone mediums. This study examined the effectiveness of the face-to-face, telephone and computer-mediated communication mediums in facilitating comforting communication and thereby improving emotional wellbeing. Self-disclosure was proposed as a mediator to explain the aforementioned relationship. Forty four freshmen discussed their adjustment to university life in one of the three mediums. The findings revealed no significant difference in participants‟ improvement in emotional wellbeing across the three mediums. Although participants in the computer-mediated condition used more negative emotion words, the mediation model was not supported. Generally, the study found that process and outcome differences in the three mediums were small.