2017/11/03 by Sabine Trepte, Philipp K. Masur, Michael Scharkow
Arts and Humanities · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Attachment and Relationship Dynamics #Impact of Technology on Adolescents #Media Influence and Health
paper · doi:10.1080/00224545.2017.1398707
openalex publication_date 2017/11/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
In the present study, we investigated long-term effects of self-disclosure on social support in face-to-face and instant messenger (IM) communication between mutual friends. Using a representative sample of 583 German IM users, we explored whether self-disclosure and positive experiences with regard to social support would dynamically interact in the form of a reinforcing spiral across three measurement occasions. If mutual friends self-disclose today, will they receive more social support 6 months later? In turn, will this affect their willingness to self-disclose another 6 months later? We further analyzed spill-over effects from face-to-face to IM communication and vice versa. We found that self-disclosure predicted social support and vice versa in IM communication, but not in face-to-face communication. In light of these results, the impact of IM communication on how individuals maneuver friendships through the interplay between self-disclosure and social support are discussed.