Interpersonal Media Among Americans’ Sympathy Groups: Theory of the Niche and Satisfying Social Needs

Abstract

This manuscript extends the theory of the niche by examining the frequency of interpersonal media use among participants’ personal network, and by reporting the degree to which individuals perceive three social needs are satisfied by nine forms of communication. From April 21 to May 3 of 2021, a quota sample of American adults (N = 1,869) completed four name generation tasks to identify up to 16 alters, leading to an average of four alters per person (n = 7,471). Participants indicated the frequency with which they communicated with each alter using eight interpersonal media as well as face-to-face communication in the past year. Participants’ relationship partner type (e.g., spouse, friend) was tied to media use, which suggests particular media are favored for distinct relationship types. Analyses of the social needs (i.e., causal conversation, meaningful talk, efficient exchange) suggested a clear hierarchy among interpersonal media and minimal niche overlap. The association between need satisfaction and frequency of use, however, demonstrated that as people perceive their social needs being met they more frequently use all interpersonal media. Taken together, the results suggest that although there are differences between interpersonal media in terms of perceived need fulfilment, increased experience with using interpersonal media with one’s personal network is tied to increased perceptions of the modality’s ability to meet social needs. The results are discussed in light of theory of the niche and channel expansion theory. This manuscript extends the theory of the niche by examining the frequency of interpersonal media use among participants’ personal network, and by reporting the degree to which individuals perceive three social needs are satisfied by nine forms of communication. From April 21 to May 3 of 2021, a quota sample of American adults (N = 1,869) completed four name generation tasks to identify up to 16 alters, leading to an average of four alters per person (n = 7,471). Participants indicated the frequency with which they communicated with each alter using eight interpersonal media as well as face-to-face communication in the past year. Participants’ relationship partner type (e.g., spouse, friend) was tied to media use, which suggests particular media are favored for distinct relationship types. Analyses of the social needs (i.e., causal conversation, meaningful talk, efficient exchange) suggested a clear hierarchy among interpersonal media and minimal niche overlap. The association between need satisfaction and frequency of use, however, demonstrated that as people perceive their social needs being met they more frequently use all interpersonal media. Taken together, the results suggest that although there are differences between interpersonal media in terms of perceived need fulfilment, increased experience with using interpersonal media with one’s personal network is tied to increased perceptions of the modality’s ability to meet social needs. The results are discussed in light of theory of the niche and channel expansion theory.