Document Type

Honors Thesis

Major

Psychology

Advisor(s)

Cynthia Erdley

Committee Members

Jennifer Blossom, Ian Cameron

Graduation Year

May 2024

Publication Date

Spring 5-2024

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate adolescents’ comfort in self-disclosing (i.e., sharing personal information with another) in both face-to-face and electronic communication contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic and currently. In addition, the role of several possible moderating factors, including gender, sexuality, depression, and social anxiety, was examined. Participants were 137 college students between 18 and 20 years of age who responded to an online survey assessing their depressive symptomatology, social anxiety symptomatology, and comfort in several aspects of self- disclosure within electronic and face-to-face settings during the COVID-19 pandemic and currently.

Results indicated that there were no significant differences in comfort between contexts of self-disclosure in either time period. Interestingly, the majority of participants reported being generally comfortable in self-disclosure regardless of time period, or context. LGBTQ+ respondents with heightened anxiety symptoms reported feeling more comfortable in disclosing their interests using digital communication tools. Male respondents reported being less comfortable than their female peers in disclosing their worries in face-to-face interactions within the current time period. Overall, results suggested that adolescents are generally comfortable in becoming vulnerable with their peers in both online and offline settings. However, adolescents at-risk, such as socially anxious LGBTQ+ youth, appear to be more comfortable disclosing in the online environment. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.

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