The Associations Between Online Media Use and Users’ Perceived Social Resources: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Conflicting findings have emerged from the large number of studies on the relationship of online media use (OMU) and users' perceived social resources (PSR). In contrast to the numerous primary studies, a comprehensive meta-analysis on the relationship between the use of different online media and PSR has been lacking to date. The findings presented are based on 342 effect sizes from 63 studies and represent data from over 35,500 individuals. The results reveal a small and positive relationship between the two variables. Detailed analyses suggest that the use of different online media, as well as the measurement of OMU and PSR, might affect the relationships obtained. Implications and directions for theoretical development and empirical research are also discussed.