Connected in the Digital Age: A Mixed Methods Exploration to Assess Technology-Mediated Connectedness

Connectedness, a fundamental human need, is increasingly met through digital technologies which offer new opportunities to foster and maintain relationships. To effectively evaluate how well these technologies facilitate connectedness, standardized and validated measurement instruments are essential. However, many current evaluation studies lack a robust theoretical foundation and rely on non-validated items, limiting the comparability and reliability of their findings. The present online study (N = 206) implements a mixed-methods approach with the aim of exploring technology-mediated interpersonal connectedness and forming a foundation for its assessment. With open-ended questions, respondents were asked to describe situations in which they experienced high vs. low connectedness. Quantitatively, items from different connectedness measures (partly adapted to fit the technology context) were applied and an exploratory factor analysis was conducted to explore underlying intersections. Based on the quantitative and qualitative results, we identified four central themes: Relational Closeness, Perceived Support, Mutual Understanding, and Detachment.