Possible Futures All at Once: Time Frame and Time Lag in Short-Term Longitudinal Media Effects Research on Well-Being

Klingelhoefer J, Gilbert A, Adrian C, Meier A (2024)

Publication Status: Submitted

Publication Type: Unpublished / Preprint

Future Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Abstract

When assessing media effects, we seldomly consider how they change over time. Especially with the prevalence of smartphone use as short-term, fragmented media use, a systematic approach to temporal dimensions is crucial, particularly to understand mixed effects of smartphone use on well-being. We employ a multiverse approach to assess the influence of two central temporal dimensions in short-term longitudinal research: Time frame and time lag. We combine mobile experience sampling (T1 = 2,859, T2 = 7,708) and log data (K1 = 71,807, K2 = 259,004) from N1 = 84 and N2 = 192 participants. Building on theorizing on time in media effects research, we propose four patterns of how short-term effects unfold: they may follow processes of ephemerality (fleeting effects), inertia (delayed onset), or reversal (changing directions) – or there are no changes over time. We discuss theoretical implications and give practical recommendations for future studies, especially short-term longitudinal designs.

Authors with CRIS profile

Julius Klingelhöfer Chair of Communication (KW) Christoph Adrian Chair of Communication (KW) Adrian Meier Assistant Professorship for Communication Science

Involved external institutions

Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU)

Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Klingelhoefer, J., Gilbert, A., Adrian, C., & Meier, A. (2025). Possible Futures All at Once: Time Frame and Time Lag in Short-Term Longitudinal Media Effects Research on Well-Being. (Unpublished, Submitted).

MLA:

Klingelhoefer, Julius, et al. Possible Futures All at Once: Time Frame and Time Lag in Short-Term Longitudinal Media Effects Research on Well-Being. Unpublished, Submitted. 2025.

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