2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Online Relationships & Men's Mental Well-Being

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Matthew Genuchi

Abstract

Research suggests online interactions can provide men with meaningful social support and friendship satisfaction, yet the nature of these relationships and what qualities drive them remain poorly understood. This mixed-methods study examined how online social interactions influence perceived mental well-being among a diverse sample of 227 participants, with a focus on friendship quality, loneliness, and online friend count. Participants completed validated measures of well-being (WEMWBS), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale), and friendship quality (McGill Friendship Questionnaire), along with three open-ended questions. Quantitative analyses revealed that the sample reported significantly higher loneliness and lower well-being relative to normative benchmarks. Friendship quality was positively correlated with well-being and negatively correlated with loneliness, while online friend count showed no significant relationship with either outcome. Qualitative responses highlighted themes of self-disclosure, emotional support, and shared interests as central to meaningful online friendships. These findings suggest that the quality — not the quantity — of online friendships is what matters most for men’s mental health, with implications for how we support social connection in the digital age.

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