Discipline(s):
Communication, Social Psychology
Area(s) of Expertise:
Social Media, Computer-Mediated Communication, Human-Computer Interaction
E-Mail:
gamy@wharton.upenn.edu
Background:
Amy’s research examines the effect communication technology has on identity, various attitudes and well-being. She has worked with computer scientists, social scientists and physicians to explore ways to use take advantage of digital technology to promote health behaviors. In particular, she has looked at the effects of social media (e.g. texting, Facebook, blogs) on important psychological states (e.g. Facebook and self-esteem) and physical health (e.g. mobile games and adolescent eating patterns). As a Health and Society Scholar she is interested in how daily communication using digital technology influences perceptions of social support. She is particularly interested in how different cultural groups construct different norms of use depending on factors like access to technology and cultural communication patterns. She hopes to understand how technology may both contribute to and detract from social support and health in order to inform policy development on access to digital technologies.
Journal Articles:
Click here for a list of Amy Gonzales' available publications in PubMed.
