Media and the Modern Family: The Influence of Family Structure on Enjoyment and Use of Family Media Activities

• In Event: Media and the Family

Abstract

Media dependency theory suggests that societal structure and social relationships have a major influence on media use. Recent data suggest that 30% of all households with children are single-parent households (U.S. Census, 2012), yet much of the existing research on families looks solely at two-parent families and rarely is media use studied as a function of family type. This study utilized a nationally representative survey of 2,326 parents of children 0 to 8 years old to understand the impact of family structure (widowed/never married, divorced/separated, or married/living together) on enjoyment of media and family media activities. Results indicate that single parent households use media with children differently than two-person households. Further, widowed/never married parents differ from divorced/separated parents in the amount of background TV use and their enjoyment of watching TV together with their children. These results are discussed with regard to the effects they may have on child development.

Authors

• Alexis Lauricella, Northwestern University

• Fashina Alade, Northwestern University

• Ellen Wartella, Northwestern U