Portable social groups: willingness to communicate, interpersonal communication gratifications, and cell phone use among young adults

  • Authors:

  • Philip J. Auter

  • Affiliations:

  • Department of Communication, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Burke-Hawthorne 107, P.O. Box 43650, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA

  • Venue:
  • International Journal of Mobile Communications
  • Year:
  • 2007

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Abstract

This study looked at young adult cell phone usage patterns. Results of a survey of 182 students at a large southern university revealed that respondents typically used their phones an average of 10.5 hours per week – the overwhelming majority of that with traditional calling. Features and services that were regularly utilised related to interpersonal communication. Limited support was found for the hypothesis that cell phone use may be utilised to avoid communication apprehension events. Stronger support was found for the hypothesis that interpersonal communication motives are positively correlated with cell phone usage gratifications.