ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCHES AND STUDIES
No: 15

THE IMPACT OF THE INTERNET ON FAMILY COMMUNICATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN URBAN FAMILIES IN VIETNAM

Dung Thi Kim LE (1), Lan Thi Thai NGUYEN (2), Linh Nguyen Thuy CU (3)
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, Internet impact, parent-child communication.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26758/15.1.30

(1) Vietnam Women’s Academy, Hanoi, Vietnam; email: kimdungkls@gmail.com

(2) VNU University of Social Sciences and Humanity Hanoi, Vietnam; email: lanctxh@ussh.edu.vn

(3)  Sydney Retina Clinic and Day Surgery, Sydney, Australia; email: linhcu96@gmail.com

Address correspondence to: Lan Thi Thai NGUYEN, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, VNU University of Social Sciences and Humanity Hanoi, 336 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam. Ph.: +84 902277361; Email: lanctxh@ussh.edu.vn

Abstract

Objectives.The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has tested people’s adaptability, resulting in significant changes in human habits. Notably, the Internet use and the family communication have been profoundly affected. This study aims to assess the differences between the parents and the children in their levels of Internet use, its consequences on parent-child communication during the pandemic, and offers suggestions for improving the parent-child communication in the time of crisis.

Material and methods. This study was conducted through a survey of 464 parents and children dyads in three major cities of Vietnam. We utilized the one-way ANOVA to analyze the variance measuring the differences in Internet usage and family communication time between parents and children, and examine the differing assessments of the Internet impact on family communication in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Results. The results indicate that COVID-19 increased both the time spent using the Internet and communicating in the family. Parents and children reported a relatively high level of satisfaction with communication. While there was no statistically a significant difference in how parents and children assessed the positive impact of the Internet on the family communication, parents rated the negative impact higher than the children did.

Conclusions. The research findings offer a unique perspective on the relationship between the Internet use and the family communication within a specific social contex. The study lays a crucial foundation for advocating the development and the implementation of the effective solutions for Internet use and communication, ensuring the sustainable family dynamics even in times of crisis or uncertainty.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, Internet impact, parent-child communication.

Suggested citation (APA)

Le, D. T. K., Nguyen, L. T. T., & Cu, L. N. T. (2025). The impact of the internet on family communication in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative study of parents and children in urban families in Vietnam. Anthropological Researches and Studies, 15, 445-460 https://doi.org/10.26758/15.1.30

Introduction

Many scholars have explored the impact of the internet use on personal communication through the empirical studies. However, the relationship between these two behaviors remains controversial and requires further research. Studies confirm the Internet’s significant role in the modern life, particularly regarding its influence over the users, including the children and other family’s members communication. Nearly two decades ago, Cho and Cheon (2005, p.488) stated that “The Internet has become an indispensable element of life for most people in the contemporary world, and children are not excluded”. This comment reflects the current phenomenon that highlights the Internet’s growing importance as its usage continues to rise in popularity and frequency, irrespective of time and place.

Being given the Internet’s substantial influence on the personal life, many researchers have been focused on its dual impact over the users (Hoàng, 2021; Hughes & Hans, 2001; Moawad & Ebrahem, 2016; Subrahmanyam & Greenfield, 2008). While Internet’s usage contains values ​​that promote a strong development, it also leaves serious social consequences, particularly for children and young people who excessively use the Internet, and also by generating some psychosocial problems (Brenner, 1997; Trần & Bùi, 2013), but also by building negative relationship (Ling & Haddon, 2008), and even by reducing the communication’s effectiveness (Shim, 2007; Venkatesh, Sykes, Chan, & Thong, 2019).

Regarding the family’s communication, the Internet clearly demonstrates all the aspects of this duality. Although it is a relatively new and low-cost communication tool, it offers numerous advantages compared to other forms of communication (Franzen, 2000, p. 428). The Internet asserted itself by having the potential to become a potent socialization agent by supporting people in interconnecting. For children, it provides significant benefits, such as providing many mediums for learning (Wartella, Lee, & Caplovitz, 2002), opportunities for socialization, entertainment and communication with their family (Niu, Chai, Li, Wu, Sun & Zhou, 2019; Shen, Wand, Chu, Wan, Viswanath, Chan & Lam, 2017). Furthermore, the Internet facilitates other activities like shopping and information gathering, making them faster and saving time for the family members (Franzen, 2000).

However, the negative effects of the Internet on users and family’s communication are increasingly concerning. Robert Kraut, Mukhopadhyay, Szczypula, Kiesler, and Scherlis (1999) proved that the excessive Internet Internet’s use leads to a decline in people’s social activities and reduces the ability to communicate within the family. Previously, Internet-connected television was the primary technology that took away the time people spent together (Franzen, 2000). Nowadays, the modern devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops brought more convenience in accessing the Internet, resulting in more time spent using the Internet. Consequently, “… the less they spend with friends, neighbours, and family members” (Franzen, 2000, p. 428). Excessive Internet use reduced the interfamilial communication, resulting in fewer friends, and increased the users’ feelings of loneliness and psychosocial problems (Gapsiso & Wilson, 2015; Phạm, 2017). For children, the adverse effects were particularly evident. Excessive internet use may lead to physical fatigue, cognitive confusion in distinguishing between reality and the virtual world, and difficulties by diforming their identity (Cordes & Miler, 2000).Thus, heavy Internet use may foster the individual isolation; even online communication often lacks the quality of face-to-face interactions (Kraut,Mukhopadhyay,Szczypula, Kiesler & Scherlis, 1999, p. 419)

Moreover, as individuals increasingly use the Internet for the social networking, the more contacts they have, the larger their social network tends to be, and the more time they spend communicating with others. However, this does not necessarily mean enhance family communication. Sometimes, too much attention to communication outside the family is a factor that weakens communication within the family, thereby weakening the family cohesion. As with other activities, the Internet usage is time-consuming and, thus, reduces people’s social activities. Shim (2007) hypothesizes that in the 24 hours, time spent online detracts from time spent on social communication and other activities.

From another perspective, the role of the family in the individual Internet use behaviour is also worth noting. The social context of the media use, especially the parental influence, is critical in children’s social development. Family’s cohesion is strongly suggested as a positive factor in reducing children’s exposure to harmful Internet content (Cho & Cheon, 2005). This is supported by the research results of Tajalli and Zarnaghash (2017) on the cause and consequences of inappropriate and addictive internet use. Among many issues, lack of family’s responsibility, lack of family support, and family’s isolation are essential problems. These family problems affect all the family’s members, making them feel more attached to the Internet and its virtual space that interacting with their own family members, constituting, in that way, an Internet addiction. Internet addiction, in turn, adds to the challenges and problems faced by users (Tajalli & Zarnaghash, 2017).

The family communication is crucial in ensuring the family’s functions and children’s socialization. Many researches indicated that family’s communication significantly influenced children’s socialization and development (Bireda & Pillay, 2017; Moschis, 1985). Good parent-child interactions help parents effectively convey the important life values, guiding their children in the present and future. The relationship between parents and children was established and maintained through a continuously communication, while the interaction between the parents and children also has become more robust and more effective thanks to the feedback process. Furthermore, the communication also became a way able to help the parents recognize and address the real needs of their children (Runcan, Constantineanu, Ielics, & Popa, 2012, p. 905). Since “Communication involves the negotiation of shared meanings” (Galvin, Braithwaite, & Bylund, 2015, p. 28), engaging in dialogue with the parents is invaluable; through communication, the children not only that they participate to the socialization process but also they express their attachment and love (Runcan et al., 2012).

The COVID-19 pandemic was an unexpected event that profoundly impacted how people communicate and their daily Internet usage. In a short period (from January 2019 to June 2020), millions of people worldwide have been removed from the regular order of daily life (Senturk & Bozkurt, 2021, p. 174). While the pandemic is primarily a health crisis, its negative impacts extend to various aspects of the social life, including the social relationships and communication. Vietnam, like many other countries, was heavily affected by the pandemic. As a result, the Internet became increasingly integral to people’s lives, particularly as the Vietnamese government implemented strict measures to curb the virus’s spread (Le & Nguyen, 2020). With lockdowns and social distancing policies, parents and children were compelled to stay home more often, leading to a shift of most activities, such as studying and working to online formats. Therefore, the Internet has become a fundamental and essential bridge for individuals to maintain their lives in the new context.

This study aims to assess the differences between parents and children regarding their levels of Internet use and the consequences of this behaviour related to parent-child communication in urban Vietnamese families during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Research sample and method

Research sample

The study surveyed 464 parent-child pairs in three major cities of Vietnam: Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Below are the key demographic characteristics of the research participants:

Gender: The proportion of women participating in the study was higher than that of men, particularly among the parent group although the invitation letter to participate in research was sent to both the parents. However, the result in the parent group show that 25.9% were men and 74.1% were women. This is probably because mother tend to take care of the children’s study more. While this figure in the children group was 42.9% boys and 57.1% girls.

Age: Parents’ age ranged from 31 to 66 years old, while children were between 12 and 18 years old. Children’s age range was intentionally chosen, as adolescents in this group are likely to be middle and high school students living with their parents, spending more time communicating with them. Additionally, children in this age group tend to use the Internet more than younger age groups and possess the cognitive ability to understand and respond to the questionnaire.

Educational level: Parents’ educational levels varied, with the highest percentage (31.5%) having a university degree and the lowest (13.4%) holding a college or intermediate level.

Occupation and the family’s income: The occupations of parents participating in the study were diverse, spanning the public and private sectors, services, armed forces, freelance work, and homemaking. The average monthly income of households was 18.69 million VND (approximately 79.5 USD/month).

Family type and the marital status: Most participants belonged to two-generation families (68.3%) and three-generation families (31%). Among the parents, 90.9% were married, 5.3% were divorced, and 3.9% were single.

Research method

Parents and children participating in the survey were selected using a random sampling method. From the list of the students in each class provided by teachers, students were selected at these intervals of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, etc., until the required number of each class was reached. Then, invitations and consent forms were sent to the selected students’ parents for their participation and permission for their children’s participation. All participants voluntarily agreed to participate, the parental consent was obtained for all children participants. Comprehensive information about the study – including its purpose, methods, processes, and techniques – were provided to all the participants. Research ethics were fully disclosed, including confidentiality and the right to participate and withdraw. The study adhered to the ethical regulations of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (Code 1539/CN-XHNV). Each parent and child received a separate code to verify and compare information.

The questionnaire was developed by the research team, which has comprised experts in social work, psychology, sociology, and educational management. It was designed specifically for two groups of research’s participants (parents and children). Before the official survey, a pilot study was conducted to test the reliability and the suitability of the questionnaire. The study employed Cronbach’s Alpha and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to assess the reliability of the questionnaire, with results indicating that all the scales met the necessary criteria and were appropriate for the research’s population. The research used a Likert scale in order to measure participants’ level of agreement, ranging from ‘strongly disagree’ (1 point) to ‘strongly agree’ (5 points). A lower score (for example from 1:00- 1:49) indicates strong disagreement with the item, while a higher score (for example 4:50-5:00) means strong agreement.

The collected data was processed by Excel with the aim to eliminate any invalid questionnaires before applying SPSS 20 software for official data analysis.

Results

In order to assess the differences between parents and children regarding the impact of the Internet during parent-child communication in urban Vietnamese families, we employed the one-way ANOVA analysis of variance method. This analysis included testing for homogeneity of the variance (Hoàng & Chu, 2008), allowing us to conclude the differences between parents and children regarding Internet’s use and its effects on their communication.

Testing the differences in Internet access time between parents and children during the COVID-19

We conducted a Levene test to examine the differences in Internet access time between the parents and the children during COVID-19. The result showed a significant value (Sig.=0.817 > 0.05, indicating that the variance in Internet use time between parents and children was statistically significantly similar. The Levene test result is >0.05, so the ANOVA analysis result should be used to test the difference in Internet access time between the parents and the children. The ANOVA analysis result yielded Sig.=0.000.

Figure 1

Differences in Average Internet Usage Time between Parents and Children (to see Figure 1, please click here)

Figure 1 illustrates that the average Internet usage time for children is 8.00 hours/day, which is higher than that of the parents (5.64 hours/day). This finding not only confirms that both parents and children in Vietnamese families were engaged in relatively high daily Internet usage, but it also highlights a significant difference in access time, with children tending to use the Internet more than their parents. Although the relatively high Internet usage time of parents and children serves online activities in the context and excess free time resulting from the epidemic, the excessive amount of time spent on the Internet during the day also predicts risks when a part of Vietnamese children use the Internet at a high level.

Testing the difference in communication time between parents and children

The Levene’s test result has had Sig.=0.061 > 0.05, suggesting that the variance in communication time between parents and children is statistically significant. Since Levene’s test result was>0.05, we used ANOVA analysis results, and the result had Sig.=0.088 > 0.05, indicating no statistically significant difference in communication time between parents and children. This result predicts a positive signal, as the time spent communicating appears relatively balanced.

When parents and children spend sufficient time communicating, it helps maintain and enhance the family communication. While the family communication encompasses more than just interactions between parents and children, these exchanges play a crucial role in fostering effective relationships, understanding, and mutual acceptance. As noted, “There is no aspect of the relationship between the parent and the child that does not involve communication” (Runcan et al., 2012, p.905). Therefore, the relatively balanced time spent by parents and children on communication was the first and the most encouraging sign in assessing this factor in the family. Particularly during the epidemic, when individual screen time increased, the fact that they still allocated significant time for communication underscores the importance they place on family interactions. While the pandemic necessitated more time at home and led to increased the Internet usage for work and study (Le, 2022), it also provided opportunities for families to be engaged in activities together, thereby facilitating a more direct communication (Senturk & Bozkurt, 2021)

Testing the difference in satisfaction in communication between parents and children

The Levene test result has had Sig.=0.009 < 0.05, showing that the variance in satisfaction in communication between parents and children was statistically significant. Since Sig. (Levene Statistic) = 0.009 < 0.05, we used the results from Robust Tests to assess the difference in communication satisfaction. The Robust analysis showed that Sig. (Welch) = 0.004 < 0.05, leading to the conclusion that there was a statistically significant difference in the level of satisfaction with the communication between parents and children.

Figure 2

Difference in Satisfaction in Communication between Parents and Children (to see Figure 2, please click here)

In the Vietnamese urban families, there is a high level of satisfaction with communication, indicating that the family members were engaged deeply in the communication process rather than superficially. This high satisfaction aligns with Skinner’s view of operant behaviour and reinforcement, which posits that communication satisfaction is a substantial reward that encourages parents and children to repeat and maintain the communication behaviours.

Testing the difference in parents and children’s assessments of the positive influence of the Internet on family communication

The Levene test result revealed a significance value (Sig.=0.978 > 0.05, indicating that the variance in parents and children’s assessments of the positive influence of the Internet on the parent-child communication during COVID-19 is statistically significantly similar. As the Levene test result >0.05, we proceeded with ANOVA analysis. The ANOVA analysis result showed that Sig (ANOVA) = 0.606 > 0.05, allowing us to conclude that there is no statistically significant difference in parents and children’s evaluations of the Internet’s positive influence on communication during COVID-19. This finding suggests that parents and children share similar views on the positive influence of the Internet on communication. Such consensus is encouraging, as it provides a strong foundation for parents and children with the aim to discuss and agree on strategies to enhance the positive role of the Internet in their communication.

Table 1

Parent and Children Assessment of the Positive Impact of the Internet on Family Communication (to see Table 1, please click here)

Although there is no statistically significant differences in parents’ and children’s assessment of the positive influence of the Internet on communication during COVID-19, both groups generally rated this influence relatively high. The mean scores for assessing the Internet’s positive impact on parent-child communication were notably high, ranging from 3.48 to 3.84 for children and from 3.54 to 3.82 for parents. These results align with findings from previous studies that indicate both parents and children recognize the positive influence of the Internet on family communication (Franzen, 2000). Acknowledging the Internet’s positive values for communication provides a foundation for parents and children to develop strategies for effective Internet use, enhancing communication within the family.

Testing the difference in parents and children’s assessment of the negative impact of the Internet on family communication

The Levene test result had Sig.=0.255> 0.05, suggesting that the variance in parents and children’s assessment of the negative impact of the Internet on parent-child communication during COVID-19 is statistically similar. The ANOVA analysis revealed Sig (ANOVA) = 0.000< 0.05, indicating a statistically significant difference in the assessments of the negative impact.

Figure 3

Differences in Parents and Children’s Assessments of the Negative Impact of the Internet on Communication (to see Figure 3, please click here)

As it has been shown in Figure 3, the parents rated the negative impact of the Internet on the parent-child communication during COVID-19 higher than their children (3.62 vs. 3.44). This difference in assessments is related to the time each group spends online. Parents perceive the adverse effects of Internet usage on communication more seriously than their children do. Differences in age and cognitive ability may also contribute to this disparity. Junior high and high school students may not fully understand or assess the negative implications of the Internet use on communication. These findings were consistent with the data indicating that parents spend less time online than their children.

Testing the difference in parents and children’s assessments of solutions with the aim to improve the family communication effectiveness

In light of the study’s findings on the impact of the Internet on communication in the urban Vietnamese families during the COVID-19 pandemic, three solutions were proposed to enhance positive effects and mitigate the negative ones. The first solution involves adjusting Internet usage behaviour to ensure a balanced relationship with the family communication. The second focuses on establishing and adhering to communication principles and skills within the family. The final suggestion encourages using the Internet to improve the communication effectiveness in the family.

The Levene test result had Sig.=0.013< 0.05, demonstrating that the variance in the evaluation of parents and children on the solution to improve communication effectiveness between parents and children is statistically different. The results of the Robus Tests analysis showed Sig (Welch) = 0.002< 0.05, confirming this conclusion.

Figure 4

Differences in Parents and Children’s Assessments of Solutions in order to Improve the Family Communication’s Effectiveness (to see Figure 4, please click here)

The results from the Figure 4 indicated that parents have a higher assessment of solutions to improve the family communication effectiveness when the Internet is available than the children (3.99 compared to 3.87). This data underscores the necessity for solutions and services that enhance family’s communication as the Internet plays an increasingly active role in daily life. Raising parents and children’s awareness of the importance of understanding and controlling the appropriate Internet’s usage is essential. In addition, developing a cohesive set of solutions and services will promote reasonable Internet behaviours and improve the family communication’s effectiveness. The higher assessment from parents regarding these solutions aligns with their greater recognition of the Internet’s negative effects. As concerns about these impacts grow, parents are likely to seek appropriate strategies in order to balance the Internet use and the family communication.

Discussions

The study reveals several noteworthy findings regarding the differences between parents and children about the Internet’s use and communication:

Firstly, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the role of the Internet is further emphasized. As measures were implemented to curb the spread of the virus, the Internet emerged as a crucial tool for maintaining connections and balancing the social life. People’s daily habits were entirely changed by the pandemic (Lukoševicˇiu ̄te ̇ & Šmigelskas, 2022; Senturk & Bozkurt, 2021). For the first time in history, the social distancing measures were enforced globally, travel was severely restricted, and children and adolescents could not attend school while parents transitioned to the remote work (Akil, Eliza, Hisham, Sakib, Rabi, Chellappan & Islam, 2020). Consequently, the increased reliance on the Internet became evident in nearly every country, Vietnam included. The pandemic has established a new world order dominated by the Internet technology, with its influence likely to persist in the post-pandemic landscape (Bilaney & Thampi, 2020). The pandemic has transformed how individuals utilize the Internet, deepening their dependence more than ever (Bilaney & Thampi, 2020). According to Srivastava (2020), the Internet played a vital role during the COVID–19 period, particularly during the lockdown periods when the social isolation occurred. Subudhi and Palai (2020) asserted that in order to maintain an everyday life during the COVID-19 pandemic, people were forced to shift their habits from offline to online. They stated that the Internet promoted people’s daily lives in the fields of information technology, education and research, healthcare, banking, insurance, entertainment, shopping and other activities (Subudhi & Palai, 2020, p. 60).

In the Vietnamese families during COVID-19, parents and children spent a significant time online, with children using the Internet more than their parents. This result aligns with findings from other studies indicating that the children and the adolescents has had the highest rate and frequency of the Internet use (Tokunaga, 2010), with the most engaging online daily (Lenhart, 2007). Although using the Internet for many hours a day is a common problem in many countries, and as we have shown in this study, parents and children’s time spent using the Internet was relatively high. The main reason for this situation is the strong impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic forced parents and children to isolate at home in order to prevent the epidemic, resulting in more spare time to access the Internet and use it to maintain their work and their study. In this context, the Internet’s role in facilitating and maintaining the essential activities – related to the parents’ work and the children’s learning – has been reinforced. This social dynamic contrasts sharply with the pre-and post-pandemic periods when parents and children primarily engaged in direct, offline activities, significantly reducing their reliance on the Internet.

However, children and adolescents’ excessive exposure and Internet usage may negatively impact the family’s communication behaviour and matters relating to their physical and mental health (Ko, Yen, Chen, Yeh, & Yen, 2009; Lam, Peng, Jing, & Mai, 2009). The Internet may remarkably heighten the vulnerability of children, especially those in at-risk families, impacting their overall development (Nguyen & Le, 2021). Furthermore, the excessive Internet use increases family communication problems, such as reducing the time of direct family communication (McKenna, Green, & Gleason, 2002; Nguyen, 2017; Shim, 2007). The negative aspect of using the Internet-connected devices, such as the smartphone dependence, may disrupt children’s development and strain relationships (Ling & Haddon, 2008), potentially leading to a breakdown in family’s relationships. Therefore, assessing the purpose of Internet’s use is critical in evaluating its impact on family’s communication.

Secondly, the COVID-19 epidemic has created favourable or mandatory conditions for parents and children to increase the Internet use while facilitating the direct communication. In this study, parents and children spent a relatively equal time in communicating with each other, although there were some notable differences in their level of satisfaction. This discrepancy may stem from the different expectations regarding the family’s communication between the two groups. Nonetheless, the high satisfaction’s levels suggest that the pandemic has enhanced opportunities for family’s communication, allowing the members to achieve a degree of fulfilment in their interactions. The communication’s satisfaction is seen as a reward that parents and children receive when communicating, and in turn it motivates that the communication activities to occur and repeat. This result is consistent with other studies acknowledging that the pandemic has fostered the increased interaction and strengthened the family bonds.

However, the pandemic also creates conflicts inside of the family. A study by Senturk and Bozkurt (2021) found that 17% of participants reported increased family communication problems. Although the economic factors could influence the psychological well-being and coping mechanisms during the pandemic, enhanced family communication was fundamental to how families navigate among stressful situations.

Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly contributed to increased anxiety and depression among adolescents (Bignardi, Dalmaijer, Anwyl-Irvine, Smith, Siugzdaite, Uh & Astle 2021; Chen, Zheng, Liu, Gong, Guan & Lou, 2020; Giannopoulou, Efstathiou, Triantafyllou, Korkoliakou, & Douzenis, 2021). This may result from the pressure associated with online learning, the heightened conflict with the parents, and the diminished social connection (Magson et al., 2021). In this context, the communication with family serves as a critical activity for adolescents to cope with difficulties (Lukoševicˇiu ̄te ̇ & Šmigelskas, 2022; Pham, Le, & Nguyen, 2024). Strong family communication fosters engagement in coping strategies, promoting better mental health in adverse situations (Gecer & Yildirim, 2023). Therefore, prioritizing a healthy communication and positive collaborative activities among the family members may help cultivate connection, trust, cohesion, and happiness (Gayatri & Irawaty, 2022). The families must maintain and nurture the relationships and share beliefs to provide safety and hope to children during times of stress and uncertainty (Prime, Wade, & Browne, 2020).

The researches done by Senturk and Bozkurt (2021) has demonstrated that young people have the most problems with communication inside of their own families due to the impact of the pandemic. Although children and adolescents were the group the least sensitive group to COVID-19 (in terms of case rates, hospitalizations and deaths), but they were, however, the most vulnerable group in terms of the psychological impact of the pandemic (Nguyen & Bui, 2022). Children were severely affected by the complete change in the form of learning, with usual outdoor activities and public places being limited. In addition, problems such as the limited understanding of the epidemic situation and the lower ability to communicate their emotions, by comparison with the adults, were weaknesses that contributed to the increasing of the children’s psychological problems during the epidemic. In this context, the family’s communication emerged as a crucial protective factor for the adolescent mental health, highlighting its value during the restrictive circumstances (Lukoševicˇiu ̄te ̇ & Šmigelskas, 2022). Communication not only helped the adolescents relieve their mood and feel brighter but also helped them to understand their real needs (Branquinho, Kelly, Arevalo, Santos, & de Matos, 2020). Concerning the parents, they have had fewer problems with communication under the impact of the epidemic disease, and, on the contrary, it created favourable conditions for a more communicative behaviour (Le, 2022). This observation was consistent with the findings of Senturk and Bozkurt (2021) that communication problems tend to decrease with age, and the older individuals has reported stronger family relationships during the isolation. Consequently, fostering effective family communication has made possible to assist parents and adolescents in addressing the psychological challenges.

Thirdly, the assessment of the Internet’s impact on parent-child communication illustrated the dual nature of the Internet in communication. ANOVA analysis has showed no statistically significant difference in parents’ and children’s evaluations of the Internet’s positive influence on communication; however, the parents rated a higher negative impact of the Internet on communication than their children. The Internet helped to diversify the forms of communication, the communication content, the ways of expressing the information and the emotions in communication and increased the flexibility in communication’s time. This finding were aligned with other studies highlighting the family’s communication, as many families have adopted various digital communication methods and technologies for a long time (Blinn-Pike, 2009). Smartphones may facilitate family members to communicate with each other (Wang, Chu, Viswanath, Wan, Lam, & Chan, 2015), and video calls often elicited positive emotional expression (Shen et al., 2017). Therefore, family communication was replaced not by total time spent on the Internet but by online activities with equivalent functions (Lee & Chae, 2007, p. 644). New forms of communication from the Internet fostered greater communication time and abilities, allowing for easier conversation initiation and better management of negative emotions, as messages could be stored and revisited.

Despite these benefits, the negative consequences of the Internet on communication were also significant. The excesive Internet’s use could diminish the effectiveness of the direct communication, leading to interruptions and decreased engagement. In addition, online communication hindered the ability to share and understand one another, reduced the opportunities for the physical interaction, and complicated the emotional expression, contributing to some misunderstandings and increased the family conflicts (Tadpatrikar, Sharma, & Viswanath, 2021). Furthermore, the increased Internet use increases feelings of loneliness and reduces the participation in interactions with the others, including family’s communication (Kraut, Patterson, Lundmark, Kiesler, Mukophadhyay & Scherlis, 1998; McKenna et al., 2002). Even when people use the Internet to communicate, it cannot replace the face-to-face communication due to the limitations of text messaging in conveying emotions (Seltzer, Prososki, Ziegler, & Pollak, 2012, p. 45). Therefore, the heavy Internet use may harm family relationships (Fitzpatrick & Vangelisti, 1995; Wu, Chen, Han, Meng, Luo, Nydegger & Wu, 2013), and family time is negatively affected by the Internet, particularly if it’s not adequately controlled (Shim, 2007). This study underscores that the Internet’s influence on the family’s communication is neither wholly positive nor negative. Both aspects coexist, with positive effects seemingly prevailing over the negative ones, though the latter should not be overlooked. Thus, the users must recognize the Internet’s impact on communication and develop reasonable, effective usage strategies.

Finally, parents and children they made the subject of this study offered differing assessments of solutions in order to enhance the family communication in the context of the pandemic and the Internet’s vital role in parent-child communication. The positive aspect is that both parents and children highly appreciated the feasibility and the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. This consensus created the favourable conditions for implementing these solutions, encouraging, – in that way, – the active participation from parents and children in improving the family’s communication. Adjusting the Internet usage time for parents and children when they were at home together was the simplest solution but not an easily implementable one. By considering the social context and the cultural characteristics as factors affecting the Internet’s use behaviour and the family’s communication, we may also rely on these two factors to increase the effectiveness of the Internet’s use and the communication between parents and children. Embracing healthy Internet usage while encouraging its application for positive purposes, such as communication during work and study, this may promote its benefits. Limiting unnecessary Internet use when family members are present may further strengthen the family connections.

Conclusion

The study offers a unique perspective on the relationship between the Internet use and the family communication within a specific social context, particularly during the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation presented a new experience for the humanity, lacking previous frameworks for an effective adaptation. Each family has navigated the broader epidemic prevention strategies in his own distinct ways; nevertheless, the roles of the Internet and the family communication remained essential. This research has consistently demonstrated the connection between these two elements, and the pandemic has further intensified this relationship, highlighting a reciprocal influence.

This comparative study reveals both the similarities and the differences between parents and children concerning the Internet use and the family communication during the pandemic in Vietnam. This shows that people of different ages may also have different levels of Internet use time, satisfaction in communication, and assessment of the impact of the Internet on their communication. These findings emphasize the importance of crafting adaptive solutions tailored to distinct target groups specific specific’s issues, characteristics, and needs.

The extended Internet use among parents and children may be attributed to the necessity of adapting to the pandemic; however, controlling the purpose and the content of the Internet’s use, especially for children, to mitigate the negative impacts on the family’s communication is crucial. The fact that children perceive the negative effects of the Internet on the family’s communication to be lower than their parents highlights the need for increased awareness and support for children to foster a more comprehensive understanding of this issue.

The differences and the similarities identified in this study provide a valuable foundation for families to explore, discuss, and agree upon the effective solutions for the Internet’s use and communication, ensuring, – in that way, – the sustainable family’s dynamics even in times of crisis or uncertainty.

A limitation of this study is its small sample size, which relied on self-reported questionnaires. This constraint may affect the accuracy of the data regarding the actual Internet’s use and communication practices. Therefore, further researches with a larger sample size and broader geographical scope will be essential in their aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these dynamics.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Consent to participate

Informed written consent was obtained from each participant at the time of recruitment.

References

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