Maintaining social connectedness in a fast-changing world: Examining the effects of mobile phone uses on loneliness among teens in Tibet

Abstract

This study examines how Tibetan teens use the mobile phone to maintain their social networks and how their social network connections via the mobile phone in turn affect their psychological well-being. In doing so, the study explores the effect of motives for mobile phone use and mobile phone skills as antecedents. Findings of a survey of 1,135 teen mobile phone users living in Tibet showed that they actively use the mobile phone as an important means of communication and a source of social support to help reduce loneliness. The implications of the findings are discussed in terms of illuminating how the mobile phone fits into the lives of Tibetan teenagers who are geographically isolated and resource-poor.