Digital contact does not promote wellbeing, but face-to-face contact does: A cross-national survey during the COVID-19 pandemic

With restricted face-to-face interactions, COVID-19 lockdowns and distancing measures tested the capability of computer-mediated communication to foster social contact wellbeing. In a multinational sample ( n = 6436), we investigated how different modes related wellbeing during pandemic. Computer-mediated was more common than face-to-face, its use influenced by death rates, so state stringency measures. Despite legal health threats, still positively associated with wellbeing, messaging apps had negative association. Perceived household vulnerability reduced positive effect on but surprisingly, people’s own did not. particularly negatively young empathetic people. Findings show people endeavored remain socially connected, yet however, maintain physical distance, despite tangible costs their