Getting a High‐Speed Family Connection: Associations Between Family Media Use and Family Connection

Keywords

adolescents, connection, family, media, parents

Abstract

The way families have used the media has substantially changed over the past decade. Within the framework of family systems theory, this paper examines the relations between family media use and family connection in a sample of 453 adolescents (mean age of child = 14.32 years, SD = 0.98, 52% female) and their parents. Results revealed that cell phone use and watching television or movies were the most common mediums used in families. Analyses also revealed that greater amounts of family cell phone use, coviewing of TV and movies, and coplaying of video games were associated with higher levels of family connection. Conversely, engagement over social networking sites was related to lower levels of family connection, at least from the adolescent's perspective. Implications for practitioners are discussed.

Original Publication Citation

Padilla-Walker, L. M., Coyne, S. M., & *Fraser, A. M. (2012). Getting a high speed family connection: Associations between family media use and family connection. Family Relations, 61, 426-440.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2012-06-01

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5183

Publisher

Family Relations

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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