Tensions and Technology Use in Families with Young Children

Larsen, Mette Hyllested ; Hansen, Camilla Mejlby ; Leci Sakacova, Katarina

4. Term

Digitalisation and Application Development, MSc

2018

26

Teknologi præger hverdagen i familier og kan skabe spændinger. Denne afhandling undersøger sådanne spændinger i familier, der bor sammen, med børn på 12 år eller derunder. Vi gennemførte to forbundne studier. Studie 1 var et feltstudie med fire familier og bestod af selvrapporterede dagbøger og semistrukturerede interviews. Med åben kodning (en måde at samle temaer på) identificerede vi seks kilder til spændinger og kortlagde, hvilke relationer i familien de påvirkede. Med udgangspunkt i familieteori fandt vi, at teknologi i de fleste tilfælde ikke skabte spændingerne, men fungerede som en medierende faktor for eksisterende stress. To kilder – opslugthed (at være så opslugt af en skærm, at opmærksomheden på andre falder) og afhængighed – var derimod direkte knyttet til teknologi. Studie 2 undersøgte disse to kilder med en bevidst provokerende smartphone-prototype. På bestemte tidspunkter blev telefonerne låst, og deltagerne kunne enten vente eller låse op med en kode, som gjorde en animeret hund i dårligt humør. Prototypen blev afprøvet i tre familier i 7–11 dage og fulgt op af dybdegående interviews. Systemet kunne afbryde opslugthed, og begrænset adgang til smartphones mindskede deltagernes oplevede afhængighed. Planlagte pauser fra teknologi havde desuden positive effekter på familielivet og på parforholdet.

Technology shapes everyday family life and can create tensions. This thesis examines such tensions in families living together with children aged 12 or younger. We conducted two connected studies. Study 1 was a field study with four families using self-kept diaries and semi-structured interviews. Using open coding (a way to group themes), we identified six sources of tension and mapped which relationships within the family they affected. Drawing on family theory, we found that in most cases technology did not create these tensions; rather, it acted as a mediator for existing stress. Two sources—absorption (becoming so engrossed in a screen that attention to others drops) and addiction—appeared directly linked to technology use. Study 2 examined these two sources with a deliberately provocative smartphone prototype. At set times, phones were locked, and participants could either wait or unlock with a code that made an animated dog look unhappy. We deployed this in three families for 7–11 days and followed up with in-depth interviews. The system could interrupt absorption, and limiting access to smartphones reduced participants’ perceived addiction. Planned breaks from technology also had positive effects on family life and on the couple relationship.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

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Leci Sakacova, Katarina:

• GLAMPING – Nature served on silver platter (2013)