Comparative analysis of interpersonal communication skills in face-to-face and digital (WhatsApp) communication environments among young people

This study aims to comparatively examine how the transformation in interpersonal communication styles with the digitalization process is reflected on the communication skills of young individuals in face-to-face and WhatsApp-based digital written communication environments. In the context of the aim of the study, especially face-to-face communication and interaction styles established through WhatsApp as a digital written communication medium were evaluated; individuals' communication skills were examined in four basic dimensions (expressive competence, empathy, social comfort and listening). The sample of the study consists of young individuals between the ages of 18- 30 studying at various universities in Turkey. The quantitative research method was adopted in the study, the data were collected by questionnaire technique, and the personal information form and the Interpersonal Communication Competence Inventory were used as data collection tools. The questionnaire form was adapted to separately assess communication skills in both face-to-face and WhatsApp environments. The data obtained were evaluated with descriptive statistics, paired sample t-test, independent sample t-test and correlation analysis. According to the research findings, communication skills of young individuals differ significantly according to the communication medium they use. While empathizing and social comfort skills were found to be more dominant in face-to-face communication, the tendency to express oneself clearly and openly in WhatsApp environment was found to be higher. In addition, female participants were found to have higher communication skill scores than male participants in both communication mediums. These findings reveal that in the digitalized age, the communication skills of young individuals in different communication environments vary according to the structure of the environment and in this context, individuals' communication styles are shaped by contextual conditions.