Relational Communication Preferences Across Three

Generations

Nancy Cheever, Communications Department

L. Mark Carrier, Psychology Department

Larry Rosen, Psychology Department

California State University, Dominguez Hills

Introduction

Technological advances

have increased the use of

e-mail, text messaging,

and instant messaging,

especially among the

younger generations.

Introduction

Americans spend

more time on the computer

and using new modes of

communication than they

do using traditional forms of

media and engaging in

other daily tasks

Introduction

Scholars agree that traditional forms of communication—face to face and telephone—are rapidly declining among young people

Introduction

Have face to face

and other

synchronous

communication

modes become a

thing of the past?

Are there generational differences?

Introduction

How do the

preferred modes

change based

on levels of

depression and

shyness?

Purpose

• This study examines the preferred

communication methods and relational

differences among three generations

• Looks at how these differences relate to

levels of depression and shyness

Three Generations

– Net Generation Born 1980-1999

– Generation X Born 1965-

1979

– Baby Boomers Born 1946-1964

Method“Please indicate your preferred way of communicating

with each person listed below:”

– Parents

– Children

– Best friend

– Good friend

– Acquaintance

– Significant other

– Brother/sister

– Other relatives

– Teacher or boss

– Doctor/dentist

– Someone asking for help

with school or work

– Cousins

– Make a date

– Break a date

– Break up with someone

Method

• Measured shyness levels (online and F2F)

– Self-reported

– “When I communicate face to face I am”

– “When I communicate online in am”• From very shy to very outgoing

• Measured depression levels

– “I frequently feed sad or depressed”• Strongly agree to strongly disagree

Communication with SIGNIFICANT OTHER

Chi-square 87.08, p < .001

Communication with CHILDREN

Chi-square 23.78, p < .01

*Net Generation removed

Communication with PARENTS

Chi-square 92.93, p < .001

Communication with BEST FRIEND

Chi-square 99.70, p < .001

Communication with GOOD FRIEND

Chi-square 158.43, p < .001

Communication with ACQUAINTANCE

Chi-square 288.47; p < .001

Communication with DOCTOR/DENTIST

Chi-square 43.73; p < .001

Communication with TEACHER/BOSS

Chi-square 46.96, p < .001

Communication with MAKE A DATE

Chi-square 85.63, p < .001

Chi-square 86.80, p < .001

Communication with BREAK A DATE

SOMEONE ASKING FOR SCHOOL/WORK HELP

Chi-square 193.27, p < .001

Preferred communication methods by

SHYNESS LEVEL IN PERSON

__________________________________________________________

Relation In person Phone Technology (IM, E-mail, Text)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Significant other**

Shy 76% 14% 10%

Outgoing 83% 12% 5%

Children*

Shy 76% 21% 3%

Outgoing 85% 13% 3%

Best friend**

Shy 61% 24% 16%

Outgoing 65% 25% 10%

*p < .05; **p < .01

Preferred communication methods by

SHYNESS LEVEL IN PERSON

__________________________________________________________

Activity In person Phone Technology (IM, E-mail, Text)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Make a date*

Shy 37% 47% 17%

Outgoing 40% 50% 11%

Break a date*

Shy 25% 50% 26%

Outgoing 28% 55% 16%

Break up with someone**

Shy 64% 20% 14%

Outgoing 78% 14% 6%

*p < .05; **p < .01

Preferred communication methods by

SHYNESS LEVEL ONLINE

__________________________________________________________

Relation In person Phone Technology (IM, E-mail, Text)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acquaintance**

Shy 29% 40% 32%

Outgoing 21% 26% 54%

Teacher or boss**

Shy 49% 27% 24%

Outgoing 54% 13% 32%

*p < .05; **p < .01

Preferred communication methods by

SHYNESS LEVEL ONLINE

__________________________________________________________Activity In person Phone Technology (IM, E-mail, Text)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Break a date**

Shy 25% 63% 9%

Outgoing 26% 53% 21%

Break up with someone*

Shy 60% 30% 8%

Outgoing 75% 15% 8%

Someone asking for help with work or school**

Shy 41% 30% 27%

Outgoing 33% 32% 35%

**p < .01

Preferred communication methods by

DEPRESSION LEVEL

__________________________________________________________Relation/activity In person Phone Technology (IM, E-mail, Text)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Make a date**

Depressed 42% 47% 11%

Not depressed 30% 53% 17%

Relatives*

Depressed 54% 39% 5%

Not depressed 46% 47% 5%

*p < .05; **p < .01

Preferred communication methods by GENDER __________________________________________________________

Relation In person Phone IM Text E-mail________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Acquaintance**

Male 28% 31% 8% 17% 17%

Female 20% 27% 8% 21% 24%

Cousins**

Male 48% 34% 2% 7% 7%

Female 39% 35% 4% 8% 13%

Good friend**

Male 53% 31% 3% 9% 5%

Female 43% 32% 5% 13% 7%

Relatives*

Male 56% 36% 1% 2% 3%

Female 49% 44% 1% 0% 4%*p < .05; **p < .01

Preferred communication methods by GENDER

__________________________________________________________

Activity In person Phone IM Text E-mail________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Make a date**

Male 28% 31% 8% 17% 17%

Female 20% 27% 8% 21% 24%

Break a date**

Male 34% 50% 1% 11% 3%

Female 23% 55% 3% 16% 4%

**p < .01

No. 1 Preferred method of communication N=1,319__________________________________________________________

Relation/activity No. 1 preference (%) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Significant other In person (71%)

Parents In person (67%)

Brother/sister In person (58%)

Best friend In person (56%)

Break up with someone In person (56%)

Teacher/boss In person (51%)

Doctor/dentist Telephone (48%)

Good friend In person (46%)

Relatives In person (44%)

Break/make a date Telephone (43%/40%)

Acquaintance Telephone (25%)

Discussion

• In general, the No. 1 preferred method of communication is in person

• In general, people would prefer to communicate either in person or on the telephone

• The use of e-mail, text, and instant messaging is not the most preferred method of communication in any category

Discussion• As the relationship presumably gains more distance, the

preferred method of communication becomes more

technological

• As age categories increase, preference for face-to-face

communication decreases in almost all categories

• Baby Boomers prefer e-mail more than any other

generation (very few use instant messaging)

• Net generation prefers face to face more than any other

generation

Discussion

• No panic about technology “stealing” children away from synchronous communication modes

• Older adults may be too busy to use face-to-face communication methods

Discussion

• Asked their preferred method of communication NOT how they typically communicate

• People may prefer to communicate in person, but cannot because of their busy lives

• Technology makes it easier for people to stay connected

Thank You