The purpose of this survey research was to ascertain the current usage of technology mediated communication in the parent-child relationships of college students as it relates to the identity development process of single young adults. While there is no single theory that predicts or explains the concepts presented in this research, the current study uses individual development theories as the framework, family development theory for the foundation of the framework, and communication theory to link computer-mediated technology to individual and family development.

1. College Students’ Communication with Parents:
How Technology Impacts the Family
Ronald A. Fannin, Ph.D.
Mary Bold, Ph.D., CFLE
Texas Woman’s University
Matt Dodd, Ph.D., M.MFT
Abilene Christian University
Current Statistics on Use of Technology: Prepared by Layli Pham, M.S.

2. Separation
and Connection

3. Identity
Achievement
Moratorium
Foreclosure Diffusion

4. Current Statistics on Use of Technology
• 93% of youth use the Internet
and 94% of their parents do, too
• 87% of parents of 12-17 year olds use the internet
• Teens are more likely to call tech devices
“helpful” than are their parents
• Parents are more likely to regulate content of
Internet sites than the amount of
time on the Internet
• 96% of 9-17 year old students with Internet access
chat, text, blog, and communicate online

5. • 96% of school districts assign Internet homework
• 77% of children 8-14 shop on the Internet
• 14% have helped parents with income tax returns
• 20% of 8-14 year olds have e-mail accounts
their parents do not know about
Top 10 Teen Gadgets:
Computer Cell Phone iPod/MP3
Digital Camera Game System Flash Drive
Television TiVo DVD
Microwave

6. Research Conceptualization
Family Life Cycle Stage / Life Course (Leaving Home for College)
TMC

7. Research Variables
Developmental Identity Status
(OMEIS):
1. Identity Achievement
2. Moratorium
3. Foreclosure
4. Diffusion
Demographic Identity:
1. Gender
2. Age
3. Ethnicity
4. Employment Status
Independent Variables Dependent Variables
Technology Mediated
Communication (TMC)
Behaviors:
1. Frequency
a. Mail
b. Telephone
c. Cell Phone
d. Email
e. Instant Messaging (IM)
f. A/V Chat
2. Content
a. Friendships/Family
b. Romantic Relationships
c. Academic Decisions /
Experiences
d. Material and Financial
Resources
e. Values, Beliefs, and
Moral Decisions
3. Emotional Closeness:
a. Mother
b. Father
Hypotheses
1 & 2
Hypotheses
3 & 4

8. Methodology
Electronic Survey:
• Link to survey emailed to 1000
undergraduate college students.
• 250 randomly selected students
from each classification.

9. Participants
194 Usable Responses:
• Single Young Adults
• 18 – 22 years old
• Living away from home
• Enrolled in College/University

10. Identity Status Results
• Diffused individuals use the cell phone more
often than foreclosed or identity achieved.
• Foreclosed individuals felt less emotionally
close to their fathers than diffused or
moratorium.
• Foreclosed individuals use the cell phone to
talk about academic decisions/experiences less
than all other identity statuses.

11. Demographic Results
• Seniors email parents about finances more than
freshmen or sophomores.
• Juniors use audio/video chat to talk about
finances and romantic relationships more than
freshmen or sophomores.
• Students working full time feel less
emotionally close to their mothers than part
time or unemployed students.

12. Demographic Results
• Students working part time use the cell phone
to talk to parents about finances more than
unemployed students.
• Hispanics/Latinos(as) use email less than
Caucasians and the “Other” ethnic category.
• Asian-Americans use audio/video chat more
than any other ethnic group in the study.
• Asian-Americans use instant messaging to talk
about romantic relationships more than others.

13. Discussion
• TMC allows college students to have
autonomy from, while staying connected to
family.
• TMC allows college students to control the
level of interaction with parents.
• Identity Status and Media Richness Theory
explain TMC use.
• Finances and romantic relationships are
important topics.