Adolescents' perceptions of adolescent-parent communication and adolescent technology use
Date
2013
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The present study examined the relationship between adolescents' perceptions
of their communication with their parents and their technology use (talking on the
phone, texting, emailing/instant messaging). More specifically, this study assessed the
longitudinal relationship across two time points between these two variables and
whether gender differences exist. The sample included 1,036 tenth and eleventh grade
students from the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Linear regression models
were conducted to examine if adolescent-parent communication predicted later
adolescent technology use or if adolescent technology use predicted later adolescentparent
communication. Girls' communication with their parents predicted more
technology use. Further, girls' technology use predicted more problems in
communication and less open communication with their parents. For boys, the pattern
was unidirectional as only technology use predicted adolescent-parent communication
one year later. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.