Feeling Close Through Technology: What Researchers Mean by Connectedness and How They Measure It

What is it about?

Digital technologies can help people meet a basic human need: feeling connected to others. They offer new ways to build, maintain, and strengthen relationships even when people are far apart. Although researchers are increasingly interested in how technology shapes these feelings of connection, the field still lacks a shared understanding of what “technology-mediated connectedness” means and how best to measure it. This makes it difficult to compare studies, build on one another’s findings, and develop reliable measurement tools. To address this gap, we systematically reviewed research from psychology and human–computer interaction (HCI). We examined 79 psychology articles from APA PsycInfo and PSYNDEX, as well as 54 HCI articles identified through a prior systematic review of ACM digital libraries. Included studies were peer-reviewed, published from 1980 onward, and investigated interpersonal connectedness between two or more people who were separated and using technology. Studies used either quantitative or qualitative methods and included at least 10 participants. Our review shows that this is a fragmented research area. Researchers rarely agree on how to define or theorize technology-mediated connectedness. Psychology studies often use established theories, but some of these may need updating for today’s digital environments. HCI studies, by contrast, often focus on designing specific technologies and provide less theoretical explanation. Studies also differ greatly in their methods, measures, participant groups, and the technologies they examine. Future research needs clearer definitions, stronger methods, shared theoretical frameworks, and standardized measurement tools. We propose focusing more precisely on interpersonal connectedness: the quality and emotional closeness people experience in a particular interaction with a particular person or group of persons. This is a narrower concept within the broader idea of social connectedness and may provide a clearer foundation for future research.

Featured Image

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Digital technologies increasingly shape how people stay connected across distance, but research uses inconsistent definitions, theories, and measures, making findings difficult to compare. This review uniquely integrates psychology and HCI research to map how technology-mediated connectedness has been conceptualized and measured. By proposing a clearer focus on the construct interpersonal connectedness it can support better theory, stronger methods, standardized measures, and more meaningful research on technology and human connection.

Perspectives