FAMILIES IN FACEBOOK: DOES PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION IN THE SOCIAL NETWORK AFFECT PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP?

In the last decade, the Social Networks (SN) spreading has increasingly affected the way people interact and relate. Recently, family scholars have approached this topic of research mainly focusing on how parent-child relationship may affect the child use of the social network. Most of this literature sees the SN as a potentially risky environment and highlights the importance of parental monitoring and control in order to prevent risks like cyberbullying, sexting, etc. In the present research we argue that the SN are likely to have for a positive impact on family relationships. Specifically, the study aimed at analyzing how parent-child frequent interactions in Facebook may affect and improve their relationship. A questionnaire assessing family relations, use of Facebook, and psychological outcomes was administered to more than 200 adolescents and late adolescents and their parents in Italy and Chile. Data were analysed using the using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kenny & Cook, 1999). Results showed that both for parents and child interaction in Facebook is associated with a perceived improvement of the quality of the relationship. A moderating effect of parental warm was found on this association. Theoretical and practical implication of these results are discussed.