Poster #119 - Gendered Differences in Adolescents’ aToM, Loneliness, and Affinity for Aloneness in Relation to Media Use

• In Event: Poster Session 14

Abstract

Adolescence is a period of considerable developmental and social change. It is marked by increased autonomy, including in media use. Having an almost unlimited access to digital media has resulted in concerns about being “constantly connected” (e.g., Reid et al., 2016), however, media, including digital media, can also support learning and development. For example, Gentina et al. (2021) found that using online social networks contributes to teens' theory of mind. Certain psycho-social factors, such as loneliness and affinity for alone time, have been found to mediate media use – and are also associated with adolescents’ advanced theory of mind (aToM). Coplan et al. (2022) found that affinity for aloneness in adolescents is associated with positive views of passive technology, such as watching videos on their phones. Loneliness and affinity for aloneness are also related to aToM (e.g., Bosacki et al., 2020; Koerber & Osterhaus, 2020). The current study examines the relation between adolescents’ aToM, loneliness, and affinity for alone time in relation to their media use. Gender was also considered.

High school students (N = 164) from greater NYC (14-19 years; M = 15.75; 91 girls), from schools with a majority of students eligible for free/reduced lunch participated. Students identified as: African American (41%), Latinx (40%), Asian (10%), White (5%), or Other (4%). Testing occurred in a group, with each student on their own computer. The following measures were given: i) the Flexibility and Automaticity of Social Cognition (FASC) – automaticity and flexibility of aToM; ii) Loneliness & Social Dissatisfaction, iii) Positive Attitude towards Aloneness, iv) and a media use survey.

Correlations are reported in Table 1. Loneliness and affinity for aloneness were negatively correlated, r(118) = -.44, p < .01. Affinity for aloneness was positively correlated with aToM flexibility (FASC - MST), r(93)=.214, p=.03. This may reflect adolescents with better aToM recognizing their need for solitude. The lack of relation between loneliness and aToM differs from Koerber and Osterhaus (2020), however, they studied 5- to 8-year-olds versus adolescents in the current study.

Gender differences are reported in Table 2. The only significant difference is that boys reported significantly higher levels of loneliness than girls, t(162)=2.10, p=.04. Although research on gender differences in adolescents’ loneliness has been mixed, boys generally tend to report higher levels of loneliness.

Finally, media use was examined. Positive attitude towards aloneness was associated with more time spent on the phone, r(118)=.186, p=.04. This finding is consistent with Coplan et al.’s (2022) finding that adolescents with an affinity for aloneness were more positive towards passive technology. Loneliness was associated with more time on the computer,r(163)=.228, p<.01, and playing video games, r(163)=.155, p=.047. Also, loneliness was associated with playing with friends online, r(108)=.215, p=.03, suggesting computer use and gaming are ways adolescents deal with loneliness.

This study highlights how adolescents' mental and social lives, including their media choices, may interact to affect ToM development. Results suggested that a bi-directional relation exists between adolescents’ psychosocial factors, such as ToM, social and solitude preferences, and their media choices.

Authors

• Russell Miller, The Graduate Center, CUNY
  Presenting Author

• Bruce D Homer, The Graduate Center, CUNY

• Sandra Bosacki, Brock University