Social Comfort and Internet Use

This monologue describes how groundbreaking online
research techniques were used to examine differences
in Internet use between two groups with differing
levels of social comfort. A sample of participants
was self-selected via links on the websites of two
popular search engines and three university sites
dedicated to Internet research. Each participant was
screened online for symptoms of social
anxiety. Participants also answered a questionnaire
on demographic information, aspects of Internet use,
and aspects of face-to-face interaction. Significant
differences were found in the Internet use patterns
between groups. These patterns are interpreted and
discussed in the context of current research in the
field of psychology and online behavior. This
monologue contributes insight into the emerging
research on social networking, and discusses social
anxiety and online support networking in the context
of the current psychology literature.

Autorentext
Cindy Ycaza Stroschein, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and a board-certified rehabilitation counselor in Baxter, Minnesota. She specializes in treating anxiety and mood disorders. She previously was an assistant professor of Behavioral Medicine at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.

Klappentext
This monologue describes how groundbreaking online research techniques were used to examine differences in Internet use between two groups with differing levels of social comfort. A sample of participants was self-selected via links on the websites of two popular search engines and three university sites dedicated to Internet research. Each participant was screened online for symptoms of social anxiety. Participants also answered a questionnaire on demographic information, aspects of Internet use, and aspects of face-to-face interaction. Significant differences were found in the Internet use patterns between groups. These patterns are interpreted and discussed in the context of current research in the field of psychology and online behavior. This monologue contributes insight into the emerging research on social networking, and discusses social anxiety and online support networking in the context of the current psychology literature.