| Mass Media Usage and Social Information Seeking Profiles are introduced as a person-centered method of gaining insight into inconsistencies about the relationship between internet use and both well-being and political engagement. Through latent profile analysis, four profiles (or types) of mass media use and interpersonal communication were identified among stratified quota samples of adults in 19 countries (N=20,317). About 55% of the total sample fit a “displacement hypothesis”, where online media displaces traditional mass media and face-to-face communications to get news about society. Compared those Digitally Immersed (37%), the Traditional among these (18%- more TV news, phone & face-to-face contact) were more politically engaged and had better well-being. Another 45% of the sample fit the “augmentation hypothesis” where usage of online media simultaneously co-varied with (added to) traditional media usage: 37% of these had high levels of interpersonal engagement and all forms of mass media usage: this Highly Engaged type had lower depressive symptoms, higher life satisfaction, but also higher anxiety compared to the 8% Low Engagement type. They were also less knowledgeable about facts relevant to politics than the Traditional type, even though they were high on political efficacy and elaboration. The identification of different types of people with different styles of gaining information from mass media and other people represents a new approach to advancing research to clarify mixed results of how online media use affects subjective well-being and political engagement. Further details are provided about the specific cases of China, Taiwan, and other societies in East Asia. |
