Adolescents' perceptions of adolescent-parent communication and adolescent technology use

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.