Communication in the Time of COVID-19: An Examination of Imagined Interactions and Communication Apprehension During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

As people all over the world continue to adjust to the new normal presented to them by COVID-19, they must adjust to the social restrictions that have been enforced. These restrictions include shelter-in-place and work-from-home orders that severely limit the face-to-face interactions that were considered a norm in many peoples’ lives (e.g., speaking with the grocer, hair stylist, etc.). As individuals adjust to these changes, their communication behaviors must adapt as well. This study seeks to determine how the restrictions of COVID-19 have impacted Imagined Interactions (IIs) and Communication Apprehension (CA). This study identifies significant relationships between IIs and CA before and during COVID-19, as well as how certain demographics have experienced IIs and CA during the pandemic.