The MySpace Generation

Parenting Children in a Virtual World:How Parental Attachment Influences

Teen Online Behavior

Larry Rosen, Ph.D.Nancy Cheever, M.A., Cheyenne Cummings, B.A., Julie Felt, B.A.,

& Michelle Albertella, B.A.

California State University, Dominguez Hills

The MySpace Generation

PARENTING STYLEBaumrind (1971) Macoby & Martin (1983)

Parenting Style Questionnaire (PSQ: Lamborn et. al;

1991)

Two Dimensions:

Control/Demandingness/Strictness/Supervision

“My parents know exactly where I am most

afternoons after school”

Warmth/Responsiveness/Parental Involvement

“I can count on my parent to help me out

if I have some kind of problem.”

The MySpace Generation

High Warmth

High Strictness

High Warmth

Low Strictness

Low Warmth

High Strictness

Low Warmth

Low Strictness

AUTHORITATIVE PARENTING

INDULGENT PARENTING

AUTHORITARIAN PARENTING

NEGLECTFUL PARENTING

The MySpace Generation

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Study 4Study 3

PARENTING STYLES

The MySpace Generation

DEMOGRAPHIC DIFFERNCES

PARENT GENDER:Fathers more Neglectful (49%) than Mothers (29%)

CHILD AGE:Older teens were more likely to have Neglectful or Indulgent parents than younger teens

NO OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES FOR PARENTS OR TEENS

The MySpace Generation

02468

10121416

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 3Study 4

Hours Per Week on MySpaceStudy 3: Indulgent > Authoritative/Authoritarian

Study 4: Neglectful > Authoritative

The MySpace Generation

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 3Study 4

Number of MySpace FriendsStudy 3: Neglectful > AuthoritativeStudy 4: No significant differences

The MySpace Generation

3

4

4

5

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 3

Parent-Teen IntimacyAuthoritative > Authoritarian/Indulgent > Neglectful

The MySpace Generation

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 3Study 4

Parent-Teen AttachmentAuthoritative = Indulgent > Authoritarian = Neglectful

The MySpace Generation

2.5

2.7

2.9

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 3

Teen Social ConfidenceAuthoritative > Authoritarian > Indulgent = Neglectful

The MySpace Generation

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 3

Teen Feels Socially Liberated OnlineAuthoritative = Authoritarian > Indulgent = Neglectful

The MySpace Generation

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 4

Self-EsteemAuthoritative > Authoritarian/Indulgent > Neglectful

The MySpace Generation

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

STUDY 4

Family SupportAuthoritative > Authoritarian > Indulgent = Neglectful

The MySpace Generation

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 4

Friend SupportAuthoritative = Authoritarian = Indulgent > Neglectful

The MySpace Generation

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 4

Internet AddictionNeglectful > Authoritarian = Authoritative = Indulgent

The MySpace Generation

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 4

DepressionNeglectful > Indulgent/Authoritarian > Authoritative

The MySpace Generation

ADDITIONAL FINDINGS

Teens with Authoritative, Indulgent, or Authoritarian parents make friends more easily than teens with Neglectful parents

Teens with Authoritative parents find it easier to be honest online than those with Neglectful parents

Teens with Authoritative parents are less shy online than those with Neglectful parents

The MySpace Generation

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 3

Study 4

PARENT HAS SEEN TEEN’S MYSPACE PAGEAuthoritative> Indulgent=Authoritarian > Neglectful

The MySpace Generation

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 3

Study 4

PARENT NEVER/ALMOST NEVER VIEWS TEEN’S MYSPACE Neglectful >Authoritarian = Indulgent > Authoritative

The MySpace Generation

40%

50%

60%

70%

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 3

PARENT HAS SEEN TEEN’S MYSPACE PHOTOSAuthoritative = Indulgent = Authoritarian > Neglectful

The MySpace Generation

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Study 3Study 4

COMPUTER IN TEEN’S BEDROOMStudy 3: Indulgent=Neglectful > Authoritative=AuthoritarianStudy 4: Indulgent=Authoritarian=Neglectful > Authoritative

The MySpace Generation

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Study 3Study 4

PARENT HAS OWN MYSPACE PAGEStudy 3: Authoritative=Indulgent >Authoritarian=Neglectful

Study 4: No significant differences

The MySpace Generation

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Study 3

Study 4

TEEN WRITES A BLOGStudy 3: Indulgent=Neglectful > Authoritative=Authoritarian

Study 4: No significant differences

The MySpace Generation

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Authoritative

Indulgent

Authoritarian

Neglectful

Study 3Study 4

TEEN MET WITH SOMEONE FIRST MET ONLINEStudy 3: Indulgent > Authoritative=Authoritarian=Neglectful

Study 4: No significant differences

The MySpace Generation

CONCLUSIONSParenting Style Impacts Teen MySpace

Behaviors

• Time spent online

• Number of online friends

• Meeting online friends offline

• Writing blogs

The MySpace Generation

CONCLUSIONSParenting Style Impacts Teen Attitudes

• Online social confidence• Finding online experience socially

liberating• Making friends online• Being more honest online• Being less shy online

The MySpace Generation

CONCLUSIONSParenting Style Impacts Parent MySpace Behaviors

• How often parent views teen MySpace page• Whether parent has seen teen MySpace

photos• Whether parent has own MySpace page• Where parent locates computer that teen uses

The MySpace Generation

CONCLUSIONSParenting Style Impacts Teen Psychological Health

Parent-teen intimacyParent-teen attachmentTeen self-esteemTeen depressionTeen Internet addictionTeen family and friend support

The MySpace Generation

IMPLICATIONS

Parenting style clearly affects all aspects of behavioral uses of

MySpace, attitudes toward MySpace and psychological impact

of MySpace behavior.

The MySpace Generation

IMPLICATIONS

Overall, Authoritative parenting

setting clear limits with warmth,

caring, and teen input

positively impacts all aspects of

teen interactions with MySpace.

The MySpace Generation

The MySpace Generation

The MySpace Generation

The MySpace Generation

The MySpace Generation

Parental Perceptions of Teen MySpace Behaviors

Michelle Albertella, B.A.