Technology Makes the Heart Grow Fonder? A Test of Media Multiplexity Theory for Family Closeness
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5934066 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bhoj Balayar, Bhoj B Balayar (0000-0002-0288-7448, University of North Texas, corresponding author), Michael Langlais (0000-0001-8892-2808, University of North Texas) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 25 |
| Publication date | 2021-01-15 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2076-0760 • E-ISSN: 2076-0760 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/socsci10010025 |
| OpenAlex | W3120342768 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 7 |
| References cited | 13 |
Technology can be helpful for family relationships. Media multiplexity theory illustrates that the more technological connections (i.e., multimodality) an individual has with their family members, the stronger that relationship. Yet, this theory assumes that spending time face to face (FtF) is equitable to multimodality for relationship quality. The goal of this study is to examine the impact of online and offline interactions for the quality of family relationships. Data are from undergraduate students completing an online survey (N = 154). Results reveal that spending time FtF is better for the quality of relationships for one parent, but not the other. Although FtF was not significantly different for grandparent and sibling relationships, participants felt closer to siblings when they texted. Correlational analyses revealed that individuals scoring high in collectivism report that spending time FtF is associated with higher relationship closeness and love, particularly with parents, but not other family members. These results provide some evidence for the importance of spending quality time with family members, particularly for those who identify as collectivistic
Closeness · Collectivism · Developmental psychology · Grandparent · Quality (philosophy · Test (biology · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Media Influence and Health · Psychology · Social Psychology
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Association of Social Media Use with Family Connectedness and Parental Monitoring
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Online Communication Among Adolescents
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Cultural and Transnational Influences on the Use of Information Communication Technologies in Adult Long-Distance Family Relationships
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Converging measurement of horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism
IFamily
"The Benefits of Facebook "Friends
| Citations per year | 2.33 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2023 - 2026 (4) |
| Highly cited | No |