Online social networking and family relationships : the role of Facebook communication and family communication orientation

Abstract

Facebook has become increasingly integrated into the lives of many families and serves as a platform of communication between family members. In the current study, we investigated how parent-child communication through Facebook plays a role in family relationship. We surveyed 81 undergraduate students and their parents. Results showed that direct parent-child communication on Facebook and parents’ browsing of children’s profiles did not predict family relationship. However, direct parent-child communication on Facebook and parents’ browsing of children’s profiles increased parent-child face-to-face communication and consequently improved family closeness and reduced family conflict. In addition, family communication orientation moderated the above relationships. Our findings provide important insights on the role of online and offline communication in family development in this digital age.