Kids who engage parents in social media are healthier, study shows

Young people who engage with their parents online appear to be more generous and kind to others, according to a study by Brigham Young University.

 

The study of 491 adolescents and their parents explored their use of social networking, 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," the authors said in the abstract of their study.

 

Conversely, adolescents who use social networking without parents was associated with negative outcomes.

 

These negative outcomes included 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," the study said.

 

Conducting the study were Sarah Coyne, Laura Padilla-Walker, Randal Day, James Harper, and Laura Stockdale.

 

A separate article on CNET said the study showed "kids who friend their parents online feel closer to them in real life, and that they actually exhibit higher rates of 'pro-social' behavior, meaning they live more generously, kindly, and helpfully to others."

 

"It's bi-directional. As we have experiences in new media, it strengthens bonds that are already there. It's kind of a rich get richer type of thing and cementing what's already there. You don't want these results to get overblown to say, 'If you friend your kid on Facebook, you're suddenly going to have a great relationship.' It's just one tool in an arsenal that parents have to connect with their teens," CNET quoted Coyne as saying.

 

Also, CNET said the researchers also found the amount of time spent on social-networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram was linked with aggression and internalizing behavior.

 

"Some of the kids in the study reported being on these sites at least 8 hours a day, and they were more likely to exhibit aggression and depression," it said. — TJD, GMA News