Technology addiction and family relationships: The effects of parents' technology use on their communication with their children

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of parents' internet addiction levels on family communication and parent-child relationships. The study was designed using the correlational survey model, one of the quantitative research designs. The sample of the study consists of 267 parents of primary and secondary school students residing in Kadirli district of Osmaniye, Turkey. The sample was determined through the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic information form, the Young Internet Addiction Scale, and the Parent-Child Communication Scale, and analyzed with the SPSS program. According to the findings of the research, parents' internet addiction has a negative impact on parent-child relationships. Additional findings revealed that there are statistically significant differences between parents' internet addiction levels and their communication with their children in relation to various demographic variables. In particular, male parents had significantly higher scores in certain sub-dimensions of both internet addiction and communication. It was also found that age, income level, number of children, and employment status created significant differences in certain sub-dimensions. However, no significant differences were observed in terms of parents' educational status, marital status, or the gender of the child. The results indicate that parents' internet usage habits have a direct impact on family relationships and highlight the need for preventive efforts in this area.