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. 2021 Jun 21:12:666655.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.666655. eCollection 2021.

Alone Together: Computer-Mediated Communication in Leisure Time During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jennifer V Meier  1 , Josephine A Noel  1 , Kai Kaspar  1
Affiliations

Alone Together: Computer-Mediated Communication in Leisure Time During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jennifer V Meier et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

In spring 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a global pandemic and several lockdowns were followed in Germany. To weaken the spread of the virus, SARS-CoV-2, people were required to reduce their face-to-face contact with others. Computer-mediated communication (CMC) offers opportunities to stay in touch with important people and still meets social needs. During the first lockdown in spring 2020, we collected data from 679 participants to explore the role of CMC for social interaction in the context of leisure activities and how personal characteristics contribute to such media use. Results showed that people complied with the restriction and shifted their communication to several media, especially instant messengers and video calls. Many leisure activities were performed via CMC, especially low-key activities, such as just talking or simply spending time together. Perceived social closeness to others was positively related to the quality and quantity of CMC. The extent of leisure activities that people experienced with others via communication media was higher among younger individuals, males, and individuals with higher scores on positive state affect, extraversion, openness, and fear of missing out. The preference for solitude showed a negative relation. The motivation to continue using media for communication after the pandemic was strongly related to the quality and quantity of actual use. Low extraversion and high openness were related to higher motivation for future use. Implications such as the importance of providing fast internet and good usability of communication media as well as the relevance of increasing media literacy of people are discussed.

Keywords: COVID-19; big five; computer-mediated communication; inter-individual differences; leisure activities; perceived social closeness; personality; uses and gratification approach.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of participants who reported using communication media more frequently in the context of leisure activities during the first nationwide lockdown than before the pandemic.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of participants who reported experiencing certain leisure activities together with others via CMC during the first nationwide lockdown.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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