Socio-demographic factors and COVID-19 experiences predict perceived social support and social media engagement among college students in the U.S.

Abstract

Objective

This study examined socio-demographic characteristics and COVID-19 experiences as concurrent predictors of perceived familial and friend social support, social media use, and socio-emotional motives for electronic communication during the COVID-19 pandemic among college students.

Participants

Participants were 619 emerging adults (18–29-year-olds) currently enrolled at, or recently graduated from, a U.S.-based college or university (Mean age = 21.8, SD = 2.2; 64% female; 60% Non-Hispanic White).

Methods

Online surveys were administered between May and June 2020. A path analysis model was conducted to examine the concurrent associations between socio-demographic factors, COVID-19-related experiences, social media/electronic engagement, and perceived social support.

Results

Findings indicated significant differences in perceived social support, social media use, and socio-emotional motives for electronic communication as a function of gender, race, sexual orientation, first-generation status, and relationship status.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the role of both individual and situational differences in interpersonal functioning and demonstrate how college students differently engaged with social media for socio-emotional purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords:

• Electronic communication
• interpersonal support
• online emotional coping
• social media

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to all the study participants, who graciously shared their personal experiences and gave their time and effort during this pandemic. We also thank Ruby Rechler and Grant Hill for assistance with recruitment and for providing feedback on the study’s measures and design, and Danielle Greene for assistance with manuscript formatting. Finally, the second author extends her deepest gratitude to her in-laws Ann and Kenneth Dubar, for consistent and reliable child care during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed for the necessary writing and data analysis for this manuscript.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States of America and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Wesleyan University.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.