THE EFFECTS OF TIMING AND VISUAL CUES ON SOCIAL ANXIETY IN ONLINE COMMUNICATION

Abstract

The development of internet-based mediums for communication has created new ways to study social interactions. Previous research has shown that individuals high in social anxiety report more comfort in online social interactions than in face-to-face interactions. Similarly, individuals have been found to self-disclose more online than in face-to-face interactions, regardless of anxiety level. Computer-mediated communication also allows for more controlled interactions because of the potential to remove visual, auditory, and time-based factors that are inherent to most other communication mediums. This study explored the influence of visual and timing aspects of computer-mediated communication on self-reported levels of anxiety. The study used an undergraduate sample of 148 participants and explored how experiences of anxiety varied by whether participants believed that a webcam and/or time limit was present in a 10-minute mock computer-mediated communication. Results indicated that participants reported reduced levels of anxiety in anticipation of a face-to-face interaction after the mock online interaction. Including a webcam in the interaction led to a nearly-statistically significant increase in reported confidence. Both the inclusion/exclusion of a webcam and timer had main effects on responses during the interaction. The implications for understanding the effectiveness and use of online interactions as a treatment for social anxiety are discussed.