The dimensionality of Internet use and correlates of stress, coping behavior, and perceived social support of family and friends

Internet use is a rapidly increasing trend that evidences no signs of diminishing. Americans' attachment to the Internet has grown along with the population of online users and has changed the way Americans work, communicate, conduct business, manage finances, shop, and obtain information. Computer-mediated communication has also introduced important changes to social interaction and has opened a new social space for communication, which allows people to meet their individual and social needs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess Internet users' perceptions of social support and patterns of coping with daily hassles.;An online survey was created with a pencil and paper version of the web-based experiment to examine potential correlates of Internet use, which included (daily hassles) stress, coping strategies, and perceived social support. Fifty-two participants were recruited via the Internet and a local college. Analyses did not support hypotheses of the major variables (daily hassles (stress), coping, and perceived social support) as unique predictors for Internet use. One potential explanation for these findings is that computer knowledge and skills may influence one's level of Internet use and support network. Thus, the more computer and Internet literate the person, the more comfortable one is using the various distinct online activities.