Logging on, bouncing back: An experimental investigation of online communication following social exclusion.
Abstract
A majority of U.S. adolescents at least occasionally communicate on the Internet with unknown peers. This study tested the hypothesis that online communication with an unknown peer facilitates recovery from the acute aversive effects of social exclusion and examined whether this benefit may be greater for adolescents compared with young adults. A total of 72 young adults (mean age = 18.4 years) and 51 adolescents (mean age = 12.5 years) were randomly assigned to undergo a standardized laboratory induction of social inclusion or exclusion, followed by 12 min of either communication with an unfamiliar other-sex peer or solitary computer game play. Compared with solitary game play, instant messaging with an unfamiliar peer facilitated greater replenishment of self-esteem and perceived relational value among previously excluded adolescents and young adults. Online communication also resulted in greater reduction of negative affect among adolescents but not among young adults.
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Early experimental studies showed that virtual communication may help adolescents bounce back following social rejection.
“early experimental studies showed that virtual communication may help adolescents ‘bounce back’ following social rejection”
From Annual Research Review: Adolescent mental health in the digital age: facts, fears, and future directions. (2020) · cites this paper as Gross, 2009
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- Authors
- Gross, E. F.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gross, Elisheva F.
- Venue
- Developmental Psychology
- Published
- 2009-11
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1787-1793
- ISSN
- 0012-1649 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-0599
- OpenAlex
- W1994208018
- Cited by
- 124
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 11.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Developmental Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Children’s Digital Media Center
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- social exclusion, online communication, instant messaging, adolescents, young adults, self-esteem, negative affect, peer relationships
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Analysis of Variance, Child, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Peer Group, Regression Analysis, Self Concept, Social Identification, Social Isolation, Internet, Young Adult
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