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Association of Mobile Instant Messaging Chat Group Participation With Family Functioning and Well-Being: Population-Based Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Convenient and quality family communication improves family functioning and well-being. Using mobile instant messaging (IM) for family communication is increasingly popular, but its association with family functioning and family well-being has not been reported. OBJECTIVE: The aim of thi...

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Autores principales: Zhao, Sheng Zhi, Luk, Tzu Tsun, Guo, Ningyuan, Wang, Man Ping, Lai, Agnes Yuen Kwan, Wong, Bonny Yee Man, Fong, Daniel Yee Tak, Chan, Sophia Siu Chee, Lam, Tai Hing
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: JMIR Publications 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8074847/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33720034
http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/18876
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author Zhao, Sheng Zhi
Luk, Tzu Tsun
Guo, Ningyuan
Wang, Man Ping
Lai, Agnes Yuen Kwan
Wong, Bonny Yee Man
Fong, Daniel Yee Tak
Chan, Sophia Siu Chee
Lam, Tai Hing
author_facet Zhao, Sheng Zhi
Luk, Tzu Tsun
Guo, Ningyuan
Wang, Man Ping
Lai, Agnes Yuen Kwan
Wong, Bonny Yee Man
Fong, Daniel Yee Tak
Chan, Sophia Siu Chee
Lam, Tai Hing
author_sort Zhao, Sheng Zhi
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: Convenient and quality family communication improves family functioning and well-being. Using mobile instant messaging (IM) for family communication is increasingly popular, but its association with family functioning and family well-being has not been reported. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association of the use of family IM chat groups with family functioning and well-being, and the mediating effect of family communication quality among Chinese adults in Hong Kong. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Family and Health Information Trend Survey (FHInTS), a territory-wide, probability-based telephone survey conducted in 2017. The quality of family communication, family functioning, and well-being was assessed using the Family Communication Scale; Family Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve (APGAR) Scale; and Family Well-Being Scale (family heath, harmony, and happiness), respectively. Respondents also reported the number of family IM chat groups (0, 1, 2, ≥3), and numbers of IM messages received (<1, 1-2, 3-10, 11-20, >20) and sent (<1, 1-2, 3-10, 11-20, >20) daily. The frequency of family IM chat interaction (range 0-8) was calculated by combining the number of messages received from and sent to the family IM chat groups daily. Covariates included sociodemographic characteristics and the frequency of family face-to-face communication (often, sometimes, seldom, or never). Data were weighted by sex, age, and education of the general population. Adjusted β coefficients of family functioning and well-being in relation to having a family IM chat group, and numbers of messages received and sent were calculated. The mediation effects of family communication on these associations were assessed, controlling for the covariates. RESULTS: A random sample of 1638 Chinese adults (45.6% men; 78.1% aged 25 to 64 years) were interviewed (response rate: 74.4%). Female, younger age, being married or cohabiting, higher education, higher income, better family functioning, and well-being were associated with having at least one family IM chat group (all P<.01). Higher scores of family communication, family APGAR, and family well-being were associated with having more family IM chat groups and more messages received from and sent to family IM chat groups daily (all P for trend <.01). More frequent family IM chat interaction was associated with higher scores of family communication, family APGAR, and family well-being (β=.16-.83, all P for trend <.001). The associations of family IM chat interaction with family functioning and well-being were moderately (51.0%-59.6%) mediated by family communication. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a family IM chat group was associated with higher family functioning and well-being, and the association was partially mediated by family communication.
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spelling pubmed-80748472021-05-06 Association of Mobile Instant Messaging Chat Group Participation With Family Functioning and Well-Being: Population-Based Cross-sectional Study Zhao, Sheng Zhi Luk, Tzu Tsun Guo, Ningyuan Wang, Man Ping Lai, Agnes Yuen Kwan Wong, Bonny Yee Man Fong, Daniel Yee Tak Chan, Sophia Siu Chee Lam, Tai Hing J Med Internet Res Original Paper BACKGROUND: Convenient and quality family communication improves family functioning and well-being. Using mobile instant messaging (IM) for family communication is increasingly popular, but its association with family functioning and family well-being has not been reported. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association of the use of family IM chat groups with family functioning and well-being, and the mediating effect of family communication quality among Chinese adults in Hong Kong. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Family and Health Information Trend Survey (FHInTS), a territory-wide, probability-based telephone survey conducted in 2017. The quality of family communication, family functioning, and well-being was assessed using the Family Communication Scale; Family Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve (APGAR) Scale; and Family Well-Being Scale (family heath, harmony, and happiness), respectively. Respondents also reported the number of family IM chat groups (0, 1, 2, ≥3), and numbers of IM messages received (<1, 1-2, 3-10, 11-20, >20) and sent (<1, 1-2, 3-10, 11-20, >20) daily. The frequency of family IM chat interaction (range 0-8) was calculated by combining the number of messages received from and sent to the family IM chat groups daily. Covariates included sociodemographic characteristics and the frequency of family face-to-face communication (often, sometimes, seldom, or never). Data were weighted by sex, age, and education of the general population. Adjusted β coefficients of family functioning and well-being in relation to having a family IM chat group, and numbers of messages received and sent were calculated. The mediation effects of family communication on these associations were assessed, controlling for the covariates. RESULTS: A random sample of 1638 Chinese adults (45.6% men; 78.1% aged 25 to 64 years) were interviewed (response rate: 74.4%). Female, younger age, being married or cohabiting, higher education, higher income, better family functioning, and well-being were associated with having at least one family IM chat group (all P<.01). Higher scores of family communication, family APGAR, and family well-being were associated with having more family IM chat groups and more messages received from and sent to family IM chat groups daily (all P for trend <.01). More frequent family IM chat interaction was associated with higher scores of family communication, family APGAR, and family well-being (β=.16-.83, all P for trend <.001). The associations of family IM chat interaction with family functioning and well-being were moderately (51.0%-59.6%) mediated by family communication. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a family IM chat group was associated with higher family functioning and well-being, and the association was partially mediated by family communication. JMIR Publications 2021-03-15 /pmc/articles/PMC8074847/ /pubmed/33720034 http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/18876 Text en ©Sheng Zhi Zhao, Tzu Tsun Luk, Ningyuan Guo, Man Ping Wang, Agnes Yuen Kwan Lai, Bonny Yee Man Wong, Daniel Yee Tak Fong, Sophia Siu Chee Chan, Tai Hing Lam. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 15.03.2021. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on http://www.jmir.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.
spellingShingle Original Paper
Zhao, Sheng Zhi
Luk, Tzu Tsun
Guo, Ningyuan
Wang, Man Ping
Lai, Agnes Yuen Kwan
Wong, Bonny Yee Man
Fong, Daniel Yee Tak
Chan, Sophia Siu Chee
Lam, Tai Hing
Association of Mobile Instant Messaging Chat Group Participation With Family Functioning and Well-Being: Population-Based Cross-sectional Study
title Association of Mobile Instant Messaging Chat Group Participation With Family Functioning and Well-Being: Population-Based Cross-sectional Study
title_full Association of Mobile Instant Messaging Chat Group Participation With Family Functioning and Well-Being: Population-Based Cross-sectional Study
title_fullStr Association of Mobile Instant Messaging Chat Group Participation With Family Functioning and Well-Being: Population-Based Cross-sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Association of Mobile Instant Messaging Chat Group Participation With Family Functioning and Well-Being: Population-Based Cross-sectional Study
title_short Association of Mobile Instant Messaging Chat Group Participation With Family Functioning and Well-Being: Population-Based Cross-sectional Study
title_sort association of mobile instant messaging chat group participation with family functioning and well-being: population-based cross-sectional study
topic Original Paper
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8074847/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33720034
http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/18876
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