Parental Social Networks Research Articles

Gender differences in the associations between parental phubbing, fear of missing out, and social networking site addiction: A cross-lagged panel study

Despite the exploration of detrimental consequences of parental phubbing and adolescent social networking site (SNS) addiction, research regarding their bidirectional relationships and underlying mechanisms is lacking. To address this research gap, the present study explored the longitudinal and bidirectional relationships between parental phubbing, fear of missing out (FoMO), and adolescent SNS addiction. Furthermore, the study investigated the mediating role of FoMO and the moderating role of gender therein. Data were collected among 1447 Chinese adolescents in June 2019 (T1) and January 2020 (T2). The results showed significant positive correlations among all three variables in both waves. There were bidirectional associations between parental phubbing and adolescent SNS addiction. T1 parental phubbing positively predicted T2 FoMO, and T1 FoMO positively predicted T2 SNS addiction, but not vice versa. FoMO mediated the link between parental phubbing and subsequent adolescent SNS addiction. T1 SNS addiction predicted T2 parental phubbing, and T1 FoMO predicted T2 SNS addiction – but these effects were significant only among girls. The effect of T1 FoMO on T2 FoMO was significantly stronger among girls than in boys. The findings contribute to the literature on parental phubbing and adolescent SNS addiction and provide insights for prevention and intervention programs addressing adolescent SNS addiction.

The ontogeny of social networks in wild great tits (Parus major).

Sociality impacts many biological processes and can be tightly linked to an individual's fitness. To maximize the advantages of group living, many social animals prefer to associate with individuals that provide the most benefits, such as kin, familiar individuals, or those of similar phenotypes. Such social strategies are not necessarily stable over time but can vary with changing selection pressures. In particular, young individuals transitioning to independence should continuously adjust their social behavior in light of developmental changes. However, social strategies exhibited during adolescence in animals are understudied, and the factors underlying social network formation during ontogeny remain elusive. Here, we tracked associations of wild great tits (Parus major) during the transition to independence and across their first year of life. Both spatial and social factors predicted dyadic associations. During the transition to independence in spring, fledglings initially preferred to associate with siblings and peers over non-parent adults. We found no evidence for preferred associations among juveniles of similar age or fledge weight during that time but weak evidence for some potential inheritance of the parental social network. By autumn, after juveniles had reached full independence, they exhibited social strategies similar to those of adults by establishing stable social ties based on familiarity that persisted through winter into the next spring. Overall, this research demonstrates dynamic changes in social networks during ontogeny in a species with a fast life history and limited parental care, which likely reflect changes in selective pressures. It further highlights the importance of long-term social bonds based on familiarity in this species.

Parental Status Connection and Social Network Variety in Adulthood

This study enriches the literature on social networks and social capital by investigating how parental status potentially impacts social network diversity in adulthood. Using the 2018 iteration of the General Social Survey (GSS, n = 2348), a high quality nationally representative survey of the United States, we utilize latent class and regression analyses, finding that parental status, especially medium and cross-status occupational connections contribute to social capital in the form of network diversity. Yet, personal socio-economic factors, notably income and race, largely offset parental effects. This underscores the complexity of network composition, emphasizing the influential role of individual resources, attributes, and mobility in shaping social networks and forming bridging social capital.

Parental networks, wage expectations, and the intergenerational educational mobility

We develop a novel theoretical framework for studying the relationship between parental social networks and educational choices of children allowing us to analyze the implications of network structure, especially size and homophily, for intergenerational schooling mobility. When the market skill premium is unobservable, families rely on noisy wage information obtained from their social contacts giving rise to heterogeneous expectations across families. Under skill homophily, children in low skill families are stronger affected by imprecise information due to a smaller number of interactions with high skill families, hence, their expectations are more dispersed and they are less likely to study. This yields a positive intergenerational schooling correlation. Empirically, a larger share of high skill parental friends is positively associated with a probability of studying, in line with the model, after controlling for the education of parents, cognitive abilities and personality traits.

Explaining children’s social relationships in early childhood: the role of parental social networks

ABSTRACT In this article, we examined young Finnish children’s social relationships, characteristics of their parents’ social networks and the role of parental networks in children’s peer relationships. We drew on the data collected from a Finnish longitudinal study known as Steps to the Healthy Development and Well-Being of Children. The data from two measurement points were included in the analyses to explore children’s peer relations at 13 months (N = 1, 212) and 4 years (N = 795). We further studied the association between children’s social networks at different time points and the role of parental sociodemographics and parental social relationships in predicting children’s social networks. Special emphasis was placed on examining how parental social networks are linked with children’s peer relations. Our results revealed a significant association between children’s social relationships at different time points and the significance of parental social networks for children’s peer networks.

Families in High-Conflict Divorces: Parent Outcomes of No Kids in the Middle

ABSTRACT This study reports on the short-term outcomes of the multi-family group intervention “No Kids in the Middle” (NKM). NKM is aimed at decreasing parental conflicts, hostile attributions about the ex-partner, and perceived social network disapproval of the ex-partner in high-conflict divorces (HCD). Interventions such as NKM are important as persistent parental conflicts can have severe negative consequences for children. For the current study, 167 HCD parents completed questionnaires at the start and end of NKM and at 6-month follow-up. A convenience sample of 136 divorced parents who were not in high conflict completed a single assessment. Their scores were used to define whether the reliable change index (RCI) for the HCD group represented a meaningful change. Parental conflict and social network disapproval of parents in a HCD decreased throughout all assessments. Hostile attributions did not change. The results provide initial evidence that NKM might help reduce conflict in HCD.

Bundles of trust? Examining the relationships between media repertoires, institutional trust, and social contexts

Abstract How the media influence the trust that citizens have in institutions such as politics and science seems more important than ever, given the decline of institutional trust in Western societies, and the increasingly diversified media landscape. This paper focuses on the relationship between media repertoires, institutional trust, and two socializing contexts (parents, social networks). Applying Latent Class Analysis, this paper examines (a) how parental socialization and social networks predict membership of media repertoires, and (b) how repertoires are associated with levels of institutional trust. Outcomes reveal five distinct media repertoires, among which the emerging type of cross-media news consumers. Membership of repertoires is associated with both parental socialization and social networks. There are clear differences in the levels of institutional trust among media repertoires: Popular media omnivores and quality news consumers have the most trust; the non-print-oriented the least.

“Are They Going to Play Nicely?” Parents’ Evaluations of Young Children’s Play Dates

Over the last 20 years, opportunities for young children to engage in self-directed free play with peers outdoors or during the school day has dramatically declined. Consequently, it is likely that play dates, defined as pre-arranged social contact at home, have become increasingly significant play environments for children. Preliminary research suggests that play dates are positively associated with young children’s social and emotional development, but that access can be strongly influenced by parental social networking priorities. However, little is currently known about the nature and frequency of play dates, the types of play children engage in, or the impact of parental management and supervision on children’s play in this context. Exploratory qualitative research is essential to understand the extent to which parental gatekeeping may limit opportunities for children and families perceived to have low social capital, and to begin to define the nature and content of young children’s play dates more broadly. Parents of children aged 5-6 years old took part in a semi-structured interview to describe common practices and attitudes (N = 11). Inductive thematic analysis indicated that play dates are complex play environments that parents associate with a range of social, emotional, and cognitive benefits for children. However, close parental monitoring and supervision may limit the extent to which play dates provide opportunities for self-directed free play. Findings also show that access to play dates is strongly influenced by parents’ motivations to enhance children’s social status which restricts access to some children. Implications for future research are discussed.

A Protocol of a Pilot Experimental Study Using Social Network Interventions to Examine the Social Contagion of Attitudes Towards Childhood Vaccination in Parental Social Networks

Increasing vaccination hesitancy that burdens global health and safety can be attributed to multiple reasons. Individuals’ social environment seems to be the catalyst for vaccination hesitancy perpetuation, thus it is important to examine the influence of different social network mechanisms in vaccination attitudes’ contagion. The proposed pilot experiment will examine the social contagion of childhood vaccination attitudes within a parental community using social network interventions. By identifying centrally-located people or groups of like-minded individuals from a parents’ community, we will examine whether the position of a person within a social group can have a greater impact in spreading positive vaccination messages to other community members. Parents will be recruited from social media and will be randomly assigned into three groups. Firstly, each group will participate in an online game to map their social networks and identify members with certain network position, who will then receive a short training about valid vaccination information provisions. All groups’ members will participate in daily vaccination discussion groups for one week, where the selected members will spread positive vaccination attitudes to others. We hypothesize that centrally located individuals and like-minded group of people will more likely cause a change on the childhood-vaccination attitudes and will sustain a long-term change at 3 months follow-up, compared to randomly located people.

Diverse perspectives on social determinants of multicultural adolescents: A focus group study

Abstract Background As Korea transforms into a multicultural society, social vulnerability of the multicultural adolescents (MAs) puts them at risk for poor health and health disparities. However, there is shortage of evidence on social determinants of health (SDH), which refers to the circumstances of people from birth to death, which affects their health outcomes, for MAs. Thus, this study aims to explore the SDH of MAs from diverse stakeholders’ perspectives. Methods This qualitative study comprised 17 focus group interviews with 99 participants (MAs, peers, parents, teachers, neighbors, and community leaders), conducted from June to September 2020. The directed content analysis was conducted using the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework with a high rigor level based on the four criteria of Lincoln and Guba’s trustworthiness. Results The participants addressed SDH of MAs in five domains: biological (vulnerability and mechanism); behavioral (health behavior, family/school/peer functioning, and policies and laws); physical/built environment (school/community environment); sociocultural environment (MAs'/parental sociodemographic, language proficiency, MAs'/parental acculturation, social network, and response to/interpersonal/local/societal structural discrimination); and health care system (insurance coverage, MAs'/parental health literacy, availability of services, and health care policies). However, limited SDH in biological and physical/built environment domains were identified. Conclusions SDH in sociocultural environment domain and interpersonal influence level were the most commonly addressed. Interpersonal discrimination of both MAs and parents were found to be the most important SDH. These findings suggest that future programs to enhance MAs’ health may be targeted toward reducing discrimination and involving their parents. Key messages • Sociocultural environment was found to be the most salient SDH domain to affect MAs’ health. • SDH of MAs are linked to discrimination and their parents’ sociocultural aspects such as acculturation.

Intergenerational transmission of family and communication social capital in Pakistan: an empirical analysis

Using a sample of 613 households of district Multan a district of Pakistan, this study investigates the transmission of family and communication social capital across generations. Models of social capital transmission with core variables support the hypothesis that parental social networks determine their offsprings' social capital. For general analysis, the majority of control variables relating to the socio-demographic status have remained insignificant. The study explores that the transmission of family and communication social capital from parents to their children is specific in nature, not like a hereditary process. It means that children seem to acquire particular forms of social capital from their parents, rather than experiencing any collective social capital improvement due to their parents' practices.

Parental conflict and social networking sites addiction in Chinese adolescents: The multiple mediating role of core self-evaluation and loneliness

Previous research has documented that parental conflict is positively associated with adolescent social networking sites (SNSs) addiction. However, the mediating mechanisms underlying this relation are largely unknown. The current aimed to study investigate the mediation effects of core self-evaluation and loneliness in the association between parental conflict and SNSs addiction. A sample of 1270 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 14.50, SDage = 1.59, 45% females) completed anonymous questionnaires regarding parental conflict, core self-evaluation, loneliness, and SNSs addiction. The findings revealed that both core self-evaluation and loneliness mediated the link between parental conflict and SNSs addiction. In addition, core self-evaluation and loneliness sequentially mediated the associated between parental conflict and SNSs addiction. The multiple mediation analysis reveals that core self-evaluation and loneliness can not only in parallel, but also sequentially mediate the relation between parental conflict and SNSs addiction. The current study contributes to better understanding how parental conflict can increase the risk of SNSs addiction, and has implications for the prevention and intervention of adolescent SNSs addiction.

Association of parental social network diversity with behaviour problems and resilience of offspring in a large population-based study of Japanese children

ObjectivesThe current study aimed to elucidate the impact of parental social network diversity on the behaviour problems and resilience of offspring.DesignWe used cross-sectional data from the Kochi Child Health Impact...

How Do Social Norms Influence Parents’ Food Choices for Their Children? The Role of Social Comparison and Implicit Self-Theories

Despite the proliferation of healthier side items for children at fast food restaurants, many parents still do not make healthy choices for their children in this setting. The goal of this research is to identify the parents most likely to do so and develop an intervention to nudge these parents toward making healthier choices in retail outlets. Across four field studies conducted in a retail environment (i.e., locations of a fast food restaurant chain), the authors predict and find that parents with a high tendency to engage in social comparison and a malleable view of the self are most likely to conform to the norm in their parental social network. Given that the norm in the population studied is to order a less healthy side item (e.g., fries) versus a healthy side item (e.g., fruit), conforming results in significantly less healthy orders for the children of these individuals. The authors demonstrate that a social norm-based intervention designed to set a new healthy norm in this retail environment succeeded in increasing the overall proportion of parents that chose a healthy side item by over 29% by increasing the choice of healthy sides specifically for these individuals. The authors conclude with a discussion of implications for theory, retail managers, and policy makers.

Parental Educational Decision Making: The Information They Seek and What They Want from Data Systems

Background/Context Parents are important consumers of educational information, especially with stipulations in ESSA. Yet, research on parental information needs is limited. It is important to understand how the information is displayed for parents in accessible and understandable ways. This study uses a theoretical perspective of parental engagement and social networking to ground the research. Purpose/Objective/Research Questions Education is awash with information. This study sought to understand the nature of the information parents seek to make decisions about their child's education. It also sought to understand the characteristics of data displays that would make information accessible and understandable. What information do parents seek to make decisions about their children's education? Where do parents go to obtain educational information? What sources do parents access to obtain the needed information? What design characteristics do parents prefer to help them navigate websites and understand the presented information? Setting The study took place in focus groups held across Missouri. Population/Participants Twenty-one focus groups were convened with 118 parents from urban, suburban, and rural areas of Missouri. Intervention/Program/Practice Focus groups addressed the need to involve parents in educational decisions and their need for data. They were asked a series of questions to elicit responses about the information they seek to make decisions about their child's education. Parents were also asked about the design, ease of access, and understandability of data displays. Research Design The study used small focus groups and a standardized interview protocol. To elicit more detailed and deeper focused responses, alternative prompts were used to ensure that participants understood what was being asked. Data Collection and Analysis Parents responded to structured questions and visual displays. Responses were recorded through comprehensive note taking. The responses were analyzed using ATLAS.ti to identify underlying themes. Findings/Results Parents seek qualitative data sources that supply descriptions of schools and districts. They want not only test scores and school grades but also information that helps them understand the schools. They want details about the teachers, leaders, and programs offered and information about safety and processes. Parents want the information presented in accessible and understandable formats that include better graphics and more easily understood details. Conclusions/Recommendations Education agencies need to consider how to present diverse information that will meet stakeholders’ needs. This is relevant because not all parents are familiar with data displays. Parents seek descriptive data that are locally relevant and represented on school or district websites and data systems.

Uma proposta de atendimento psicossocial grupal com pais e mães separados

A literatura científica aponta para diversos formatos de grupos de apoio às famílias separadas, apresentando similaridades e diferenças no que se refere ao público alvo e características das intervenções. Este artigo tem como objetivos propor uma metodologia de intervenção psicossocial grupal com pessoas em situação de separação conjugal de baixa renda que possuam filhos pequenos e analisar as conversações grupais sob o prisma da distinção entre parentalidade e conjugalidade. Utilizou-se como método a pesquisa-ação no contexto universitário e psicossocial de clínica-escola de Psicologia e dois pais e uma mãe participaram dos sete encontros grupais, onde foram discutidos os temas conjugalidade, parentalidade, comunicação, transgeracionalidade e redes sociais, entre outros. A partir da análise temática, os resultados demonstraram que o contexto psicossocial grupal contribuiu para a diferenciação entre os papéis conjugais e parentais, porém o relacionamento coparental se mostrou enfraquecido. A fim de ampliar a participação em metodologias semelhantes, sugere-se investimento em parcerias entre pesquisadores, profissionais e programas que atuem com essa população, bem como a diminuição da quantidade de encontros associada a intervenções mais voltadas à parentalidade e menos à conjugalidade.

Child welfare involvement and contexts of poverty: The role of parental adversities, social networks, and social services

Research documents a link between poverty and child welfare involvement, but the nature of this relationship is unclear. By providing in-depth accounts of situations leading to child welfare involvement, parents' perspectives can enrich our understanding of how poverty matters for child welfare involvement. Based on in-depth interviews with 40 poor parents previously investigated for child maltreatment, I discuss contexts of poverty that provided pathways to child welfare involvement. Poverty created environments of desperation and disadvantage, combined with reliance on supports that reported parents to child welfare agencies. The vast majority of incidents parents described implicated in their involvement parental adversities related to poverty; embeddedness in disadvantaged networks or volatile personal relationships; and/or involvement in, or need for, social services. These findings suggest a research approach that interrogates this complexity and maltreatment prevention policies that broadly strengthen supports for families and communities.

Parental social networks during childhood and offspring depression in early adulthood: a lifecourse approach.

Little is known on how parental social relationships may affect their children's mental health. We sought to examine the relation between parental social relationship characteristics and subsequent offspring depression in young adulthood. We used 2009 Trajectoires Épidémiologiques en Population (TEMPO) study data from 1087 French young adults ages 22 to 35 and parental data from the corresponding Gaz et Eléctricité (GAZEL) study in 1991. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine parental social networks, quality of parental relationships, and reciprocity of parental social support measured in 1991 in relation to offspring depression in young adulthood measured using the Adult Self Report in 2009. Analyses were stratified by participant sex. In adjusted models, daughters of parents who reported giving more support to others than they received had 1.72 higher odds (95% CI, 1.09-2.70) of depression in young adulthood. Daughters of parents who were unsatisfied with their social relationships had 2.14 (95% CI, 1.22-3.76) higher odds of depression. Among male participants, there was no statistically significant association between parental relationship satisfaction, reciprocity of parental exchanges, and depression. Parental relationships during mid-childhood have long-term associations with offspring depression. Results suggest that enhancing social support for parents may have positive implications for their children's mental health.

Childhood ADHD Symptoms: Association with Parental Social Networks and Mental Health Service Use during Adolescence.

Objective: This study examines the associations of childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) risk status with subsequent parental social network characteristics and caregiver strain in adolescence; and examines predictors of adolescent mental health service use. Methods: Baseline ADHD screening identified children at high risk (n = 207) and low risk (n = 167) for ADHD. At eight-year follow-up, parents reported their social network characteristics, caregiver strain, adolescents’ psychopathology and mental health service utilization, whereas adolescents self-reported their emotional status and ADHD stigma perceptions. Analyses were conducted using ANOVAs and nested logistic regression modeling. Results: Parents of youth with childhood ADHD reported support networks consisting of fewer spouses but more healthcare professionals, and lower levels of support than control parents. Caregiver strain increased with adolescent age and psychopathology. Increased parental network support, youth ADHD symptoms, and caregiver strain, but lower youth stigma perceptions were independently associated with increased service use. Conclusions: Raising children with ADHD appears to significantly impact parental social network experiences. Reduced spousal support and overall lower network support levels may contribute to high caregiver strain commonly reported among parents of ADHD youth. Parental social network experiences influence adolescent ADHD service use. With advances in social networking technology, further research is needed to elucidate ways to enhance caregiver support during ADHD care.

Cambodian Parental Involvement

The role of social capital (parental beliefs, social networks, and trust) as a predictor of parental involvement in Cambodian children’s education was examined, controlling for human capital (family socioeconomic status). Parents of elementary students (n = 273) were interviewed face to face in Cambodia. Teacher contact scored highest, followed by responsiveness, home involvement, and school meetings. Multiple regressions showed that parents’ social networks (relatives’ influence on academics), trust between people, academic aspirations, gender role attitudes, and fatalistic beliefs predicted some types of parental involvement. Gender role attitudes predicted parent-school responsiveness differently by corresponding gender of parents and children (father-daughter and mother-son), suggesting that fathers are less likely to be responsive to school for their daughters, and mothers for their sons. Results suggest that educators working with Cambodian/Cambodian American parents need to be proactive, taking into consideration parents’ beliefs system and identifying resources within families and communities that can be used to increase parents’ participation interest.