"Connected" Families in the 21st Century
Location
CSU Ballroom
Start Date
16-4-2013 2:00 PM
End Date
16-4-2013 4:00 PM
Student's Major
Family Consumer Science
Student's College
Allied Health and Nursing
Mentor's Name
Daniel Moen
Mentor's Department
Family Consumer Science
Mentor's College
Allied Health and Nursing
Description
This poster reviews the progressive impact that technology has had on the family over the past four decades from a family system perspective (e.g., Bowen, 1966). The following research questions were covered: (1) How is technology affecting how the family unit communicates with each other?
(2) Is the family unit as connected as they were decades ago when technology was not a huge factor? This study found that technology can serve as a distracting factor in families. For example, 95% of married adults with children have cell phone(s) in the household and 93% have computers (Kennedy, et al., 2008). This increase of technology use in households has led to a new form of family connectedness. This study employed a meta-analysis of four various peer-reviewed scholarly articles to find up-to-date statistics and qualitative themes. For example, Kennedy, et al., (2008, p. 1) found that in place of verbal exchanges which were more common before public use of the internet “Parents and spouses are using the internet and cell phones to create a “new connectedness” that builds on remote connections and shared internet experiences; while families are lacking in enjoying dinner as a family. Additionally, Nimkoff reports that, “New inventions in technology are highly valued and greatly encouraged, while hardly anyone would welcome a new model of the family each year” (1950, p.53).” This example illustrates how family interaction and connectedness has evolved with the invention and use of modern technologies.
"Connected" Families in the 21st Century
CSU Ballroom
This poster reviews the progressive impact that technology has had on the family over the past four decades from a family system perspective (e.g., Bowen, 1966). The following research questions were covered: (1) How is technology affecting how the family unit communicates with each other?
(2) Is the family unit as connected as they were decades ago when technology was not a huge factor? This study found that technology can serve as a distracting factor in families. For example, 95% of married adults with children have cell phone(s) in the household and 93% have computers (Kennedy, et al., 2008). This increase of technology use in households has led to a new form of family connectedness. This study employed a meta-analysis of four various peer-reviewed scholarly articles to find up-to-date statistics and qualitative themes. For example, Kennedy, et al., (2008, p. 1) found that in place of verbal exchanges which were more common before public use of the internet “Parents and spouses are using the internet and cell phones to create a “new connectedness” that builds on remote connections and shared internet experiences; while families are lacking in enjoying dinner as a family. Additionally, Nimkoff reports that, “New inventions in technology are highly valued and greatly encouraged, while hardly anyone would welcome a new model of the family each year” (1950, p.53).” This example illustrates how family interaction and connectedness has evolved with the invention and use of modern technologies.
Recommended Citation
Becker, Kelsey. ""Connected" Families in the 21st Century." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 16, 2013.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2013/poster-session-B/37
