TY - JOUR
T1 - Zooming through development
T2 - Using video chat to support family connections
AU - Strouse, Gabrielle A.
AU - McClure, Elisabeth
AU - Myers, Lauren J.
AU - Zosh, Jennifer M.
AU - Troseth, Georgene L.
AU - Blanchfield, Olivia
AU - Roche, Ellen
AU - Malik, Subul
AU - Barr, Rachel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Video chat may allow young children and grandparents to develop and maintain bonds when they are physically separated because it enables them to share experiences with each other in real time. We used an ecological model framework to examine factors associated with the development of the grandparent–grandchild relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many families were experiencing reduced opportunities for in-person interaction. We analyzed survey data from grandparents (N = 855) and parents (N = 846) of children ages 0–5 years. Predictor variables included participant characteristics (age and education level), proximity variables (geographical distance and whether grandparents had met their grandchildren in person), as well as video chat-specific factors (e.g., frequency of video chats, activities used during video chats). The frequency of video chat and the variety of behaviors engaged in during the video chats predicted grandparents' feelings of closeness to their grandchild as well as grandparents' and parents' enjoyment of family video chats. These predictors were statistically significant after controlling for participant characteristics and physical proximity, suggesting that when families are separated (e.g., due to pandemics, deployment, geographic distance, etc.) family video chats may help to build and maintain grandparent–grandchild connections in an enjoyable way. One future implication is that family video chat may introduce children to the connection between screen and world, a supportive first step in understanding and using technology.
AB - Video chat may allow young children and grandparents to develop and maintain bonds when they are physically separated because it enables them to share experiences with each other in real time. We used an ecological model framework to examine factors associated with the development of the grandparent–grandchild relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many families were experiencing reduced opportunities for in-person interaction. We analyzed survey data from grandparents (N = 855) and parents (N = 846) of children ages 0–5 years. Predictor variables included participant characteristics (age and education level), proximity variables (geographical distance and whether grandparents had met their grandchildren in person), as well as video chat-specific factors (e.g., frequency of video chats, activities used during video chats). The frequency of video chat and the variety of behaviors engaged in during the video chats predicted grandparents' feelings of closeness to their grandchild as well as grandparents' and parents' enjoyment of family video chats. These predictors were statistically significant after controlling for participant characteristics and physical proximity, suggesting that when families are separated (e.g., due to pandemics, deployment, geographic distance, etc.) family video chats may help to build and maintain grandparent–grandchild connections in an enjoyable way. One future implication is that family video chat may introduce children to the connection between screen and world, a supportive first step in understanding and using technology.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108860742&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85108860742&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hbe2.268
DO - 10.1002/hbe2.268
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85108860742
SN - 2578-1863
VL - 3
SP - 552
EP - 571
JO - Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies
JF - Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies
IS - 4
ER -