This study examined the relationship between parent–child social networking, connection, and outcomes for adolescents. Participants (491 adolescents and their parents) completed a number of questionnaires on social networking use, feelings of connection, and behavioral outcomes. Social networking with parents was associated with increased connection between parents and adolescents. Feelings of connection then mediated the relationship between social networking with parents and behavioral outcomes, including higher prosocial behavior and lower relational aggression and internalizing behavior. Conversely, adolescent social networking use without parents was associated with negative outcomes, such as increased relational aggression, internalizing behaviors, delinquency, and decreased feelings of connection. These results indicate that although high levels of social networking use may be problematic for some individuals, social networking with parents may potentially strengthen parent–child relationships and then lead to positive outcomes for adolescents.
BorisC. (2012) Twitter nears the 500 million mark, but how many have flown the coop?. www.marketingpilgrim.com/2012/01/twitter-nears-the-500-million-mark-but-how-many-have-flown-the-coop.html (accessed Aug.17, 2012).
3.
LenhartA, MaddenM, SmithA, et al. (2011) Teens, kindness and cruelty on social network sites. http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Teens-and-social-media/Part-1/Social-network-sites.aspx (accessed Aug.17, 2012).
4.
EllisonNB, SteinfieldC, LampeC. The benefits of Facebook “friends”: social capital and college students' use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 2007; 12:1143–1168.
5.
MadgeC, MeekJ, WellensJ, et al.Facebook, social integration and informal learning at university: “It is more for socialising and talking to friends about work than for actually doing work.”. Learning, Media & Technology, 2009; 34:141–155.
6.
ValkenburgPM, PeterJ, SchoutenAP. Friend networking sites and their relationship to adolescents' well-being and social self-esteem. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 2006; 9:584–590.
7.
PanticI, DamjanovicA, PanticS, et al.Association between online social networking and depression in high school students: behavioral physiology viewpoint. Psychiatria Danubina, 2012; 24:90–93.
8.
JelenchickLA, EickhoffJC, MorenoMA. “Facebook depression?” Social networking site use and depression in older adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2013; 52:128–130.
9.
SpragginsA. (2011) Problematic use of online social networking sites for college students: prevalence, predictors, and association with well-being. Gainesville, FL: ProQuest Information & Learning.
10.
WolfeWL. Online drinking: an exploratory study of alcohol use and intoxication during Internet activity. North American Journal of Psychology, 2012; 14:61–76.
11.
MikamiAY, SzwedoDE, AllenJP, et al.Adolescent peer relationships and behavior problems predict young adults' communication on social networking websites. Developmental Psychology, 2010; 46:46–56.
12.
BurkeM. (2012) How families interact on Facebook. www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-data-science/how-families-interact-on-facebook/10151208188528859?utm_source=Labnotes+Newsletter&utm_campaign=b12bf56f38-Labnotes&utm_medium=email (accessed Jan.30, 2013).
13.
GentzlerAL, OberhauswerAM, WestermanD, et al. College students' use of electronic communication with parents: links to loneliness, attachment, and relationship quality. CyberPsychology, Behavior, & Social Networking, 2011; 14:71–74.
14.
KleinM. (2012) Teens, parents face off over Facebook. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-01-22/facebook-parents-teens/52743092/1 (accessed Aug.17, 2012).
15.
Bullguard Internet Security. (2011) More than half of parents snoop on their children's online activity. www.bullguard.com/news/latest-press-releases/press-release-archive/2011-07-12.aspx (accessed Aug.17, 2012).
16.
RaczSJ, McMahonRJ. The relationship between parental knowledge and monitoring and child and adolescent conduct problems: a 10-year update. Clinical Child & Family Psychology Review, 2011; 14:377–398.
17.
MorenoMA, ChristakisDA, EganKG, et al.Associations between displayed alcohol references on Facebook and problem drinking among college students. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2012; 166:157–163.
18.
SmithA. (2011) Why Americans use social media. www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Why-Americans-Use-Social-Media/Main-report.aspx (accessed Aug.17, 2012).
19.
BroderickCB. (1993) Understanding family process: basics of family systems theory. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
20.
MurrayKW, HaynieDL, HowardDE, et al.Perceptions of parenting practices as predictors of aggression in a low-income, urban, predominately African American middle school sample. Journal of School Violence, 2010; 9:174–193.
21.
Padilla-WalkerLM, ChristensenKJ. Empathy and self-regulation as mediators between parenting and adolescents' prosocial behavior toward strangers, friends, and family. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 2011; 21:545–551.
22.
CookWL, GoldsteinMJ. Multiple perspectives on family relationships: a latent variables model. Child Development, 1993; 64:1377–1388.
23.
RobinsonCC, MandlecoB, OlsenSF, et al. (2001) The parenting styles and dimensions questionnaire (PSQD). In PerlmutterBF, TouliatosJ, HoldenGW, eds. Handbook of family measurement techniques: Vol. 3. Instruments and index. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, pp. 319–321.
24.
BarberBK, StolzHE, OlsenJA, et al.Parental support, psychological control, and behavioral control: assessing relevance across time, culture, and method. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 2005; 70:1–147.
25.
MoralesJR, CrickNR. Self-report of aggression and social behavior measure. Unpublished measure, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, 1998.
26.
PetersonC, SeligmanMEP. (2004) Character strengths and virtues: a handbook and classification. Washington, DC: Oxford University Press.
GalvinKM, DicksonFC. MarrowSR. (2006). Systems theory: patterns and (w)holes in family communication. In BraithwaiteDO, BaxterLA eds. Engaging theories in family connection: multiple perspectives. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, pp. 309–324.
29.
AgateJR, ZabriskieRB, AgateST, et al.Family leisure satisfaction and satisfaction with family life. Journal of Leisure Research, 2009; 41:205–223.
30.
CoyneSM, Padilla-WalkerLM, StockdaleL, et al.Game on…girls: associations between co-playing video games and adolescent behavioral and family outcomes. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2011; 49:160–165.
31.
LehtoXY, ChoiS, LinY, et al.Vacation and family functioning. Annals of Tourism Research, 2009; 36:459–479.
32.
MusickK, MeierA. Assessing causality and persistence in associations between family dinners and adolescent well‐being. Journal of Marriage and Family, 2012; 74:476–493.
33.
SalafiaEHBG, GondoliDM, GrundyAM. The longitudinal interplay of maternal warmth and adolescents' self-disclosure in predicting maternal knowledge. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 2009; 19:654–668.
34.
DempseyAG, SulkowskiML, DempseyJ, et al.Has cyber technology produced a new group of peer aggressors?. CyberPsychology, Behavior, & Social Networking, 2011; 14:297–302.
