Thriving or struggling? Social energy expenditure and patterns of interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Experts warned of increased stress for people confined at home during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, increased time spent communicating with loved ones may have had benefits, depending on the type of interactions and social energy they required. Using communicate bond belong (CBB) theory, we examined relationships between social energy expenditure and four outcomes: interaction satisfaction, loneliness, and feelings of being trapped with one’s romantic partner and/or children. We also examined how two forms of communication interaction (frequency of social support provision and conflict) within the home were associated with outcomes and how interaction type may moderate relationships between social energy expenditure and outcomes. Results supported all but one of the main effects hypotheses. Relationships between social energy expenditure and each outcome were moderated by frequency of support provision and/or conflict, such that negative outcomes were mitigated by frequent social support provision and exacerbated by frequent conflict. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for CBB theory and for those confined to their homes with relational partners.

KEYWORDS:

• Communicate bond belong theory
• COVID-19
• conflict
• social isolation
• social support

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by contributions from the authors’ home departments.Department of Communication Michigan State University, Michigan State University; Department of Communication Studies;University of Kansas, Department of Communication Studies;University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Notes on contributors

Amanda J. Holmstrom

Amanda J. Holmstrom (PhD, Purdue University), is an associate professor in the Department of Communication at Michigan State University, 404 Wilson Rd., Room 564, East Lansing, MI 48824, e-mail: [email protected]; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone].

Jeffrey A. Hall

Jeffrey A. Hall (PhD, University of Southern California), is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas, Bailey Hall, Rm 102, 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045.

Natalie Pennington

Natalie Pennington (PhD, University of Kansas), is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2505 S. Maryland Parkway, Greenspun Hall 4138, Las Vegas, NV 89154. Please direct correspondence to the first author.