Digital technology and family dynamics

Abstract

The inclusion of digital technology in family life has led to the emergence of new practices of ‘being together.’ Communication between family members is mediated by digital technology, thus producing changes that can be observed in family dynamics. Eleven families participated in the present study that aimed to analyze family interaction with digital technology. Our qualitative study was guided by two research questions: How do children and adults use and subjectively assess digital technology in their everyday lives? and How do families react to digital technology use and inclusion in their daily family routines? Referring to the different forms of digital behaviors that a family can manifest in relation to the use of digital technology, we identified three specific family approaches to digitalization: Resistant, Retained, and Receptive. The 3Rs family conceptual model regarding the acceptance and use of digital technology includes children’s and adults’ perspectives and provides a constructivist approach to understanding how digital technology connects all family subsystems and ultimately produces changes in the dynamics and construction of family life and identity.