Effects of social media in intergenerational relationship

Abstract

Background: Intergenerational relationship is a type of interpersonal relationship. A positive grandparent-grandchild relationship is considered as one of the sources of social support. Grandparents are a source of social support, family history and identity, and development. Children tend to have a close relationship with their grandparents, however, as they grow older this relationship becomes more distant. Maintaining long term stable communication between grandparents and grandchildren requires effort from both sides. Aim: The objective of this study is to investigate how sharing memories of grandparents with their grandchildren through social media effects their current relationship and closeness. Matherials and Methods: Quasi experimental study design was used and 60 grandchildren enrolled in this study between 2018-2019. The grandchildren were assigned to either a control or intervention group. We collected pictures and related stories from 30 grandparents and shared their stories with grandchildren assigned in the intervention group through a secret Facebook group. After the intervention, changes in the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren were analyzed. To analyze the relationship we used questionnaires of closeness, relationship investment, friendship chemistry, and conversational resources. Results: The friendship chemistry score is increased by 0.381 point and it demonstrates that Cohen’s d effect size is sufficient. In addition, sample power is 0.77 with P= 0.017 and B=1-0.017=98%. This finding shows that sharing stories and pictures of grandparents increases grandchildren’s trust, morality, closeness, and meaning of life. Conclusion: As a result of Facebook intervention to share grandparent’s pictures and stories, statistically significant improvement in friendship chemistry among the grandparent and grandchildren is observed. Slight or average improvement is identified with other measures.