Date of Award
Spring 2020
Degree Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
School
Communication
Committee Chair
Eura Jung
Committee Chair School
Communication
Committee Member 2
Fei Xue
Committee Member 2 School
Communication
Committee Member 3
Kathryn Anthony
Committee Member 3 School
Communication
Abstract
Using Communication Theory of Identity as a framework, this study compared an individual’s online and offline personal-enacted identity gap and examined the effect of each personal-enacted identity gap on individuals’ psychological well-being, as well as tested four cross-contextual predictors for online and offline personal-enacted identity gaps.
Survey data were collected from 214 participants on Amazon M-Turk. A sequence of hypotheses was tested. A questionnaire used for measuring individuals’ online personal-enacted identity gap was generated.
The result suggested individuals experience larger personal-enacted identity gap offline, which significantly negative predict individuals’ psychological well-being, whereas online personal-enacted identity gap positively predicts psychological well-being. Both online and offline personal-enacted identity gap mediate the effects of communication competence, social anxiety, online disinhibition, and social information control on individuals’ psychological well-being.
Copyright
Wang, 2020
Recommended Citation
Wang, Ningyang, "Online and Offline Identity Gaps: Cross-Contextual Predictors and Psychological Outcome" (2020). Master's Theses. 726.
https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/726
Included in
Health Communication Commons, Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons, Social Media Commons