Computer-mediated communication with distant friends: Relations with adjustment during students' first semester in college.

Because of recent technological innovations, college freshmen can readily communicate with friends who they see infrequently (e.g., friends from home). The current study addressed whether computer-mediated communication with these distant friends can compensate for a lack of high-quality on-campus friendships during students' first semester of college. Data were collected from 242 freshmen (140 female, Mage = 18.4) at midsemester and 1 month later. At low levels of face-to-face friendship quality, computer-mediated communication with distant friends predicted lower levels of emotional distress. Furthermore, when face-to-face friendship quality was low, depressive affect predicted higher levels of subsequent computer-mediated communication with distant friends. Relations with adjustment also depended on the quality of distant friendships. Implications for helping students transition to college are addressed.