Analgesic effect of Facebook: Priming with online social networking may boost felt relatedness that buffers against physical pain

Reminders of COVID-19 social distancing can intensify physical pain

Social distance regulations have been widely implemented to control the global COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals have thus been experiencing social pain through social distance regulations. Prior research has shown that social and physical pains share a common neural alarm system. Hence, COVID-19 social distancing should enhance sensitivity to physical pain. Two laboratory studies were conducted to test the spillover effect of COVID-19 social distancing on physical pain. The findings supported our hypothesis by showing that participants who were reminded of COVID-19 social distancing reported a higher level of pain perception in response to immersion in hot water (Experiment 1, N = 102) and expressed a lower pain threshold measured by a pressure algometer than did those of controls (Experiment 2, N = 140). This may be the first experimental evidence demonstrating that people primed with COVID-19 social distancing have increased sensitivity to physical pain. Our findings suggest that people might be more likely to experience physical pain under the impact of COVID-19 social distancing. The association between a heightened sense of social disconnection in a global pandemic and increased sensitivity to physical pain should receive more attention.

Can Mobile Apps Motivate Fitness Tracking? A Study of Technological Affordances and Workout Behaviors

Can workout apps actually motivate users to sustain an exercise routine? If so, what are the key characteristics of these apps that engage long-term users? We conducted a content analysis to find out. Guided by the Motivational Technology Model and Self-Determination Theory, we explored the relationship between technological affordances of BodySpace, a highly ranked body building and weightlifting app, and behavioral outcomes (number of workouts tracked, weight lifted, and cardio hours) and goal attainment rate (percentage of body fat and weight goal achieved). A total of 682 profiles were used for analysis, revealing that the use of features of the app that elicit relatedness, autonomy, and competence predicted exercise outcomes. However, these relationships were moderated by gender, consistent with prior research on the differential workout motivations between males and females.