Department of Marketing, Hankamer School of Business, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 25;18(3):1034. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18031034.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the globe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, limiting face-to-face interaction is the best strategy for reducing the spread of COVID-19. We investigate the impact of social distancing on social connection and well-being, while also considering the moderating influence of smartphone use. In a survey of 400 students, the study presented herein finds that smartphone use attenuates the negative impact of social distancing on social connection and well-being. Contrary to popular sentiments regarding the influence of smartphone use on well-being, increased smartphone use during the pandemic may foster social connection and well-being. Overall, the research presented provides evidence that the perceived loss of social connection with others is not a de facto outcome of social distancing. The study's findings have important implications for public policymakers, government officials, and others, including consumer researchers. These implications include stressing the important role technology can play in staying socially connected during the current pandemic and the importance of reframing "social distancing" as "physical distancing with social connectedness".
新冠疫情仍在全球肆虐。根据疾病控制与预防中心的数据，限制面对面的互动是减少新冠病毒传播的最佳策略。我们研究了社交隔离对社交联系和幸福感的影响，同时也考虑了智能手机使用的调节作用。在对 400 名学生的调查中，本研究发现，智能手机的使用减轻了社交隔离对社交联系和幸福感的负面影响。与普遍认为智能手机使用对幸福感有影响的观点相反，在疫情期间增加智能手机的使用可能会促进社交联系和幸福感。总的来说，本研究提供的证据表明，与他人失去社交联系并不一定是社交隔离的实际结果。该研究的结果对公共政策制定者、政府官员和其他相关人员（包括消费者研究人员）具有重要意义。这些意义包括强调技术在当前大流行期间保持社交联系方面可以发挥的重要作用，以及重新定义“社交隔离”为“物理隔离与社交联系”的重要性。
