Sharing culture in a tech world: Grandparent–grandchild cultural exchanges over video chat

Grandparents who were separated from their infant grandchildren during COVID-19 sought other ways to connect, including video chat. Video chat supports learning, and its features (e.g., contingent responsiveness) may allow for cultural exchange. However, technological problems may disrupt these exchanges. In a semi-naturalistic, longitudinal study, 47 families submitted up to three video chats and surveys. Families were predominantly White/Caucasian, highly-educated, and lived between 1 and 2700 miles apart. Multilevel models were used to predict the proportion of the sessions devoted to exchanging culture (e.g., holidays, parenting advice) and managing tech problems. Culture exchange did not change as a function of infant age, video chat experience, or when encountering tech problems. Although only marginally statistically significant, culture exchange increased as distance increased. Tech problems changed as a function of tech talk. A qualitative analysis revealed that cultural transmission occurred via a culture of care and sharing of information across video chat, that families adapted their behaviors to the new technology, and that technology disruptions rarely interfered with the flow of information. These findings demonstrate the ability to share culture when physically separated and in the presence of tech disruptions. Further, this study supports previous work on the emerging culture of video chat. Families adapted to being separated, and grandparents and infants successfully communicated through a new modality. Because video chat supports family relationships, equitable access to high-speed internet should be a priority to enable more families to use it.

© American Psychological Association, 2023-09-01. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. Please do not copy or cite without author's permission. The final article is available, upon publication, at: https://doi.org/10.1037/tps0000358

Files

Metadata

Work Title Sharing culture in a tech world: Grandparent–grandchild cultural exchanges over video chat
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. D. Piper
  2. S. Malik
  3. A-N. Badger
  4. C. Washington
  5. B. Valle
  6. G. A. Strouse
  7. L. J. Myers
  8. E. McClure
  9. G. Troseth
  10. J. M. Zosh
  11. R. Barr
Keyword
  1. Video chat
  2. COVID-19
  3. Grandparents
  4. Infants
  5. Culture exchange
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Translational Issues in Psychological Science
Publication Date June 1, 2023
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1037/tps0000358
Deposited March 15, 2024

Versions

Analytics

Collections

This resource is currently not in any collection.

Work History

Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added TPS-culture_final_internet_version__2_.docx
  • Added Creator Douglas Piper
  • Added Creator Subul Malik
  • Added Creator A-Nya Badger
  • Added Creator Charisma Washington
  • Added Creator Gabrielle Strouse
  • Added Creator Brianna Valle
  • Added Creator Lauren Myers
  • Added Creator Gabrielle Strouse
  • Added Creator Elisabeth McClure
  • Added Creator Lauren Myers
  • Added Creator Elisabeth McClure
  • Added Creator Georgene Troseth
  • Added Creator Georgene Troseth
  • Added Creator Jennifer Mary Zosh
  • Added Creator Rachel Barr
  • Added Creator Rachel Barr
  • Published
  • Updated Keyword Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Video chat, COVID-19, Grandparents, Infants, Culture exchange
  • Deleted Creator Gabrielle Strouse
  • Deleted Creator Lauren Myers
  • Deleted Creator Elisabeth McClure
  • Deleted Creator Georgene Troseth
  • Deleted Creator Rachel Barr
  • Renamed Creator D. Piper Show Changes
    • Douglas Piper
    • D. Piper
  • Renamed Creator S. Malik Show Changes
    • Subul Malik
    • S. Malik
  • Renamed Creator A-N. Badger Show Changes
    • A-Nya Badger
    • A-N. Badger
  • Renamed Creator C. Washington Show Changes
    • Charisma Washington
    • C. Washington
  • Renamed Creator G. A. Strouse Show Changes
    • Gabrielle Strouse
    • G. A. Strouse
  • Renamed Creator B. Valle Show Changes
    • Brianna Valle
    • B. Valle
  • Renamed Creator L. J. Myers Show Changes
    • Lauren Myers
    • L. J. Myers
  • Renamed Creator E. McClure Show Changes
    • Elisabeth McClure
    • E. McClure
  • Renamed Creator G. Troseth Show Changes
    • Georgene Troseth
    • G. Troseth
  • Renamed Creator J. M. Zosh Show Changes
    • Jennifer Mary Zosh
    • J. M. Zosh
  • Renamed Creator R. Barr Show Changes
    • Rachel Barr
    • R. Barr
  • Updated