New Digital Order and its Implications on Indian Family Relationships

Authors

  • Avina Taneja SNDT University, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58966/JCM2023244

Keywords:

mobile communication, Indian family, challenges, mobile devices, technology mediated communication

Abstract

The extensive adoption of mobile devices in India has revolutionized family communication patterns, presenting new dynamics and challenges. This study investigates the role of mobile communication in various aspects of family relationships, including parent-child interactions, marital relationships, and intergenerational dynamics. The aim is to see the evolving landscape of family relations in the digital era on family communication patterns, psychological well-being, and social connectedness. Mobile devices facilitate frequent and convenient communication, allowing family members to stay connected despite physical distances. It has also been observed to increase monitoring and supervision by parents, which may positively influence parent-child relationships. However, excessive mobile usage and dependency may lead to neglect of face-to-face interactions, resulting in reduced family interactions and communication. It is essential to explore the potential consequences of excessive mobile usage and identify strategies to promote healthy mobile communication practices within Indian families. The researcher conducted ten semi-structured interviews in a suburban housing society in Mumbai suburbs with similar socioeconomic strata. The aim was to know more about how mobile phones affect family communications. Qualitative grounded theory analysis was used to find themes and interpret results. (Creswell, 2013) The study explores the role of mobile communication in family relationships, emphasizing the need for effective management of mobile device usage within households. Setting time limits, boosting digital literacy, and encouraging family activities offline are among tactics that could help lessen the detrimental effects of mobile communication on family dynamics. Furthermore, understanding the cultural context of Indian families is crucial, as it can influence the adoption and interpretation of mobile technology within familial relationships. The research concludes that the role of mobile communication and usage in Indian family relations is a complex and multifaceted process. While mobile devices offer convenience and connectivity, their impact on family dynamics must be considered. This research abstract highlights the need for further investigation into the effects of mobile communication on different aspects of family relationships in the Indian context.

References

University, U. S. (2017, June 19). Are cellphones ruining family time? Human Performances Resources by Champ.

Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. SAGE.

Castells, M. M.-A. (2007). Mobile Comunication and Society: A Global Perspective. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Lopez-Fernandez, O. K. (2017). Self-reported dependence on mobile phones in young adults: A European cross-cultural empirical survey. Journal of behavioral addictions, 168-177.

Oltean, I. P. (2020). Child mental illness and mental health service use : role of family functioning. J. Child Fam. Stud, 2602-2613.

Cowan, C. C. (2019). Changing families: A presentive intervention perspective. Family Relations.

Blinn-Pilke. (2009). Technology and the family: an overview from the 1980s to the present. Marriage and Family Review, 45 (7-8), 567-575.

Organization, W. H. (2020, August). Retrieved from www.who.int: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/

Zubair Ahmed Ratan, S. B. (2021). Smartphone overuse: A hidden crisis in COVID-19,. Health Policy and Technology, 21-22.

Mishra, A. &. (2017). FAMILY COMMUNICATION PATTERNS AND SELF-CONSTRUAL AMONG INDIAN ADOLESCENTS: A CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE. Rome.

David M.E., R. J. (2021). Smartphone Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Versus Physical Distancing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 1034.

Development, O. f.-O. (2020, May 4). Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/: https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/keeping-the-internet-up-and-running-in-times-of-crisis-4017c4c9/

Wang MP, C. J. (2015). Using Information and Communication Technologies for Family Communication and Its Association With Family Well-Being in Hong Kong. Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Epstein, N. B. (1978). The McMaster model of family functioning. Journal of Marital and Family therapy, 19-31.

Tehseen Nazir, D. M. (2016). Phubbing: A Technological Invasion Which Connected the World But Disconnected Humans. The Internaional Journal of Indian Psychology.

Srivastava, L. (2005). Mobile phones and the evolution of social behaviour. Behaviour and Information Technology, 111-129.

Geser, H. (2006). Towards a sociological theory of the mobile phone.

Lian, S. L. (2021). Mobile phone addiction and psychological distress among Chinese adolescents: The mediating role of rumination and moderating role of the capacity to be alone. Journal of Affective Disorders, 701-710.

Karin Romero-Ruiza, L. E.-S.-P.-C.-A.-P. (2016). Information and communication technologies impact on family relationship. Science Direct.

Mauritzson-Sandberg, E. &. (2004). ICT-the solution of communication hurdles in the modern family? Human Perspectives in the Internet Society: Culture, Psychology and Gender, 135-141.

Sarker. S, W. J. (2003). Understanding mobile handheld device use and adoption. Communications of the ACM, 35-40.

Devitt, K. &. (2009). The role of mboile phones in mobile communication. Children & Society, 189-202.

Khan, V.-J. &. (2009). Busy families' awareness needs. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 139-153.

Stafford, L. &. (2012). Information and communication technologies in personal relationships. . The Review of Communication, 290-312.

Linke, C. (2012). Mobility, media and relational communicative repertoires: An analysis of everyday family interactions. Interactions: Studies in Communication and Culture, 25-38.

Licoppe, C. (2004). "Connected " presence: The emergence of a new repertoire for managaing social relationships in a changing communication technoscape. Environment and Planning D: Sociaety and Space, 135-156.

Gonzalez, C. &. (2016). Transnational family communication as a driver of technology adoption. International Journal of Communication, 2683-2703.

Wilding, R. (2006). "Virtua;" intimacies? Families connecting across transnational contexts. . Global Netwroks, 125-142.

Sharon L. Storch, A. V.-P. (2018). The role of mobile devices in 21st-century family communication. Mobile Media & Communication, 1-17.

Padilla-Walker, L. C. (2012). Getting a high speed family connection: Associations between family media use and family connection. Family relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 426-440.

Corbin, J. &. (2015). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for devleoping grounded theory. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE.

McDaniel, B. &. (2018). Technoference: Parent Distraction with Technology and Associations with child behavior problems. Child Development , 100-109.

(n.d.).

Published

2023-12-18

How to Cite

Taneja, A. (2023). New Digital Order and its Implications on Indian Family Relationships. Journal of Communication and Management, 2(04), 238–244. https://doi.org/10.58966/JCM2023244