(PS14-70) Examining the Impact of Digital Modalities on Interpersonal Connection: A Pilot Contextual Behavioral Intervention Study

Sunday, November 17, 2024

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST

Location: Franklin Hall, Level 4, Marriott Downtown

Author(s)

Logan C. Mattingly, None

Research Coordinator
University of Washington, Seattle
Seattle, Washington, United States

Co-Author(s)

KP

Kristen Pedersen, B.A.

Research Coordinator
University of Washington, Seattle
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Mavis Tsai, Ph.D.

Senior Research Scientist
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, United States

Abstract Text: Interpersonal connection is fundamental to human well-being, encompassing mental and physical health, and overall quality of life. With the sudden burst of digital communication in clinical landscapes such as telehealth, text messaging, and mHealth apps, it is critical to understand how different digital modalities impact communication, especially in the context of therapeutic interventions. To understand the impact of different digital modalities, we designed a 2x2 between-subjects randomized controlled trial, dividing participants into an intervention or control condition, delivered through either zoom or text platforms. This contextual behavioral intervention aimed to assess the impact of online interpersonal connection during the COVID-19 pandemic through a functional analytic psychotherapy-based model. Specifically, this addresses a critical gap in understanding how deep, meaningful interactions can be facilitated through digital platforms, a crucial aspect in mHealth and telehealth, improving well-being in the digital age. As different telehealth options use different methods of delivery, it is important to understand how these options change their impact. Students at the University of Washington (n=39) were randomized into intervention or control conditions, delivered through both zoom and text platforms, assessing how different digital modalities affect communication. Two intervention conditions involved FAP-based questions e.g., discussing strong values, longings, and truths that feel vulnerable to admit, and two control conditions involving average small talk questions e.g., favorite color, major, and hobbies. By integrating scales such as the Inclusion of Other in Self (IOS), Social Connectedness Scale, Vulnerable Self-Disclosure Scale, and Perceived Responsiveness Scale, alongside qualitative open-response questions, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the effects of contextual behavioral science-based digital communication. We hypothesized that intervention conditions and zoom conditions would exhibit higher scores on the IOS and Social Connectedness Scale compared to those in the control conditions and text conditions and are running an ANOVA to investigate these interactions. This research's significance lies in its examination of how semi-structured, vulnerable interaction frameworks can enhance perceived social connectedness, responsiveness, and self-disclosure online, particularly suggesting methods to improve the therapeutic alliance during digital therapy sessions. By comparing these outcomes to those from more superficial conversations, our study contributes valuable insights into the enhancement of digital communication's quality and its potential to impact cognitive-behavioral science positively. Our findings suggest that encouraging vulnerability and meaningful engagement in digital interactions can significantly enhance feelings of connection and safety between participants, offering new avenues for therapeutic and educational practices aimed at improving mental health and social well-being online. Future research should investigate how similar digital modalities interact with different online therapeutic interventions.