Communication Technology Used Among Parents and Their College Teens: Implications for College Health Promotion and Risk Prevention Programs

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Author(s): Abar, C. C., Turrisi, R., Belden, C., & Abar, B.

Citation: Abar, C. C., Turrisi, R., Belden, C., & Abar, B. (2013). Communication Technology Used Among Parents and Their College Teens: Implications for College Health Promotion and Risk Prevention Programs. Journal of The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition, 25(1), 61-76.

 

Abstract

The current study examined the nature of parent-teen communication in college to re-evaluate the potential for parent inclusion in college success and risk prevention programs. During September 2006, 290 first-year college students were assessed for the frequency and form (e.g., cell phone, e-mail, text) of communication with their parents. Latent class analysis was used to identify three distinct classes of parent-teen communicators: (a) infrequent contact; (b) frequent contact, dual modality; and (c) frequent contact, multiple modalities. Approximately 90% of the sample was likely to communicate with their parents at least once per week. Cell phone usage was particularly popular, with 66% reporting parental communication via cell phone several times per week. Overall, findings suggest that parents may be viable alternatives for success and risk prevention programs in college, given that parents in this study maintained consistent contact with their teens while they were at school.

 

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