International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction

Huang, Bingrui

doi: 10.1080/10447318.2025.2531271pmid: N/A

Abstract Despite widespread internet access, loneliness persists. Social presence, the feeling of togetherness through online interactions, is thought to alleviate loneliness, yet its effects in gaming contexts remain unclear. This study examined how social presence relates to loneliness among 326 young “King of Glory” players in China, using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Results identify three patterns: social presence reduces, intensifies, or has no effect on loneliness, depending on contextual, interactional, and individual factors. Players with large social circles who played with real-life friends or had frequent out-of-game communication experienced reduced loneliness with high social presence. Conversely, those with smaller social circles relying on weak-tie interactions experienced increased loneliness with high social presence. For players extending real-life interactions online, social presence did not affect loneliness. These findings underscore an integrative approach to understanding the mental health impacts of gaming.

Bao, Xiyu; Bian, Yulong; Jing, Rui; Liu, Juan; Lin, Cheng; Yang, Chenglei

doi: 10.1080/10447318.2025.2508914pmid: N/A

Abstract Redirected walking enables users to explore virtual environments larger than the physical space by introducing subtle deviations between virtual and physical movement. Dynamic gains have been shown to extend detection thresholds for various redirection gains. However, the effects of different gain change modes on detection thresholds for translation gain, as well as the influence of factors, remain insufficiently understood. A psychophysical experiment with 46 participants was conducted to examine the effects across four gain change modes (sudden, gradual, quadratic, and constant) while considering gender, VR familiarity, and gain direction. Participants completed two-alternative forced choice tasks to judge discrepancies between virtual and physical walking. Detection thresholds were determined using a staircase method. Results indicate that gradual gain change is more difficult to detect than sudden gain change, while differences among the other modes are not statistically significant. Furthermore, gender, gain direction, and VR experience were found to significantly influence detection thresholds.

Lu, Hsi-Peng; Zhu, Yu-Qian; Wang, Jui-Chi

doi: 10.1080/10447318.2025.2493410pmid: N/A

Abstract Black swan event has led to unpredictable digital transformations, forcing the government to implement digital policies. The continuous intention of digital solutions is crucial for the development of public programs. This study uses COVID-19 and teleconsultation as examples to explore the public’s continuous transformation, analyzing data from 285 Taiwanese patients with positive COVID-19 screening and mild or no symptoms through PLS-SEM. Results show that under the sudden institutional coercive pressure of the pandemic, teleconsultation self-efficacy emerges as a critical factor for continued intention. The government ensures that these policies are effective in increasing public intention and satisfaction. Overlooking the relatively limited impact of digital resource support results in a disparity between policy and resource effects, thereby influencing the continuous intention. This study reveals the government’s impact on the public’s digital transformation in the context of Black Swan event and the health sector in public administration, providing academic and practical implications.

Zhang, Yan; Xu, Yawen; Li, Li; Liu, Jiapeng; Yang, Lin; Ding, Jie

doi: 10.1080/10447318.2025.2531281pmid: N/A

Abstract As AI-generated news is increasingly widespread in digital journalism, how adolescent readers perceive such content and its impact on critical thinking (CT) dispositions becomes urgent. This study conducted latent profile and network psychometric analyses on nationally representative adolescents (N = 1517) in the Media-User Typology (MUT) framework. We uncovered three distinct reader profiles: minimal engagement group (20.3%), high affirmation group (23.3%), and neutral observation group (55.4%). Sociodemographic variables (senior high school and those in urban areas) predicted the profiles with high perceptions of AI-generated news. In addition, profiles with high perceptions of AI-generated news predicted high CT dispositions (truth-seeking and inquisitiveness, systematicity and analyticity) and a cohesive CT network. We also provided novel insights into effective CT interventions for each profile. These findings offer insights into targeted AI-generated news services, active engagement, and in-depth critical analysis of such information for adolescent readers.