Dealing With Offline Friendship Online: Examining Influencing Factors of Interactive Uncertainty Reduction Strategies

• In Event: Interpersonal Relationships on Social Media: How Social Media Mediate

Abstract

Uncertainty reduction plays an important role in interpersonal relations. Despite an abundant literature examining the effects of uncertainty reduction strategies, factors that lead to selection of the strategies have been rarely discussed. Bridging offline interpersonal relations and online uncertainty reduction, this study attempts to investigate the effects of intimacy, liking, partner-focused uncertainty and relational uncertainty on the application of interactive uncertainty reduction strategies. A self-reported survey of 244 Facebook users showed that when dealing with offline friendship, liking, intimacy and partner-focused uncertainty are positively related to the application of interactive strategies, whereas relational uncertainty is negatively related to the usage of interactive strategies. Implications for further research are discussed.

Author

• Yao SUN, U of Southern California - Annenberg School for Communication