The internet and parent-adolescent relationships : parenting challenges and strategies in the digital age

Abstract

This doctoral project aims at examining how parents of adolescent children aged 10-17 (N=1809) guide and supervise them to use the Internet, and the impact of parental involvement in adolescents’ Internet activities on the frequency of adolescents in using the Internet for learning and homework purposes. Using the parental self-efficacy model as the conceptual framework, it is hypothesized that in order for parents to be more interactive and involved in guiding and supervising adolescents to use the Internet, parents’ self-satisfaction in their own ability to guide and supervise adolescents to use the Internet is a crucial factor. Also the factors associated with parents’ self-satisfaction are examined, including parents’ level of Internet knowledge, educational attainment, attitude towards the Internet and satisfaction with family life. The data used in this study was originated from a previous research project conducted in the form of a household survey with a representative sample including parents and their adolescent children. Through structural equation modeling (SEM) with the supplements provided by the qualitative data subsequently collected from the focus group interviews with parents, adolescents and social work practitioners, the new Digital Parenting Model (DPM) was constructed. The DPM shows that parents’ frequency of adopting involvement methods in guidance and supervision is positively associated with adolescents’ Internet usage for learning and homework. Parents’ self-satisfaction with their own ability in guidance and supervision is positively associated their adoption of involvement methods. It is also found that those parents who command higher level of Internet knowledge, holding a more positive attitude towards the Internet and having more satisfactory family life are having higher self-satisfaction. Independent group comparison analyses were also conducted to understand the differences between the younger adolescents (age 10-13) and the older adolescents (age 14-17); boys and girls; and also between fathers and mothers. In terms of theoretical, research and practical contributions of this study, the findings of this study provide researchers a good reference to understand what kinds of parents are more self-satisfied and effective in helping adolescents to make good use of the Internet, and provide a good starting point for them to undertake future research on this new topic by adopting DPM as their conceptual framework. As for practical contributions, the social service providers are recommended to enhance parents’ level of Internet knowledge in order to enhance their self-satisfaction in guidance and supervision. There should also be programmes and services educating parents how to get more interactive and communicative on Internet use with adolescent children.