Translational Issues in Psychological Science, Vol 9(3), Sep 2023, 216-227; doi:10.1037/tps0000368
Media can enhance or interfere with interactions during family time, such as family dinners or family outings. Little research has examined the relationship between media use and family interactions, specifically for adolescents and parents where both might be media device users. The current observational study examined media use in families with adolescents (n = 58) in public fast-food restaurant settings. Results revealed that 12% of families did not use any media of any kind during their meal time, and 88% of families used media at least once during their meal time, split fairly evenly between parents and adolescents. Notable triggers for beginning media use included another family member using media, and triggers for ending media use included accepting another family member’s bid for attention. These triggers focused on either relational media use or relational connection. Participants also were engaged in various forms (either active or passive) of media use. Coviewing (e.g., joint media engagement) occurred more frequently (52% of observations) than technoference (15% of observations). When technoference occurred, family conversation was generally halted or was poor in quality. Parents should be aware of what they may be conveying to their adolescent children when they use their media devices during family time. Specifically, parents should be careful not to use their media in a way that conveys disinterest towards their child, instead focusing on using media for family connection, or simply refraining from using media during family mealtime as much as possible. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)