DefinePK

Research Objective

To examine the extent of smartphone usage among siblings within a specific age group, the nature of conflicts arising from it, and the role of smartphones in conflict resolution and exacerbation.

Methodology

Qualitative research design using focus groups with children aged 4-16 years, whose parents were employed and resided in Lahore, Pakistan. Convenience sampling was used. Data was collected through audio recordings and handwritten notes, analyzed using NVIVO software.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD
    A["Focus Group Recruitment"] --> B["Conduct Focus Groups with Siblings 4-16 years"];
    B --> C["Data Transcription and Organization"];
    C --> D["NVIVO Data Analysis"];
    D --> E["Identify Themes and Nodes"];
    E --> F["Analyze Findings by Age Group"];
    F --> G["Draw Conclusions on Smartphone Impact"];                    

Discussion

The study highlights a developmental shift in how smartphones impact sibling relationships across different age groups. Younger children (4-8) benefit from smartphones as tools for conflict resolution, often through compromise and sharing. As children age (8-12), smartphones become a double-edged sword, capable of both creating and resolving conflicts, with behaviors like asserting authority and monitoring emerging. Adolescents (13-16) are more prone to using smartphones in ways that escalate conflicts, often due to issues of privacy, interference, and perceived unfairness. The findings suggest that while technology is an integral part of sibling interaction, its impact is nuanced and age-dependent.

Key Findings

- In the 4-8 age group, smartphones primarily resolve sibling disagreements.
- In the 8-12 age group, smartphones can both cause and resolve sibling conflicts.
- In the 13-16 age group, smartphones tend to exacerbate sibling conflicts due to poor interactions.
- Specific conflict-creating behaviors include reporting, disrupting, condemning, participating, invading, and fussing.
- Specific conflict-resolving behaviors include accommodating, associating, helping, pairing, cheering up, and endorsing.

Conclusion

Smartphones play a significant and age-dependent role in sibling rivalry. For younger children (4-8), they are predominantly conflict resolvers. For those aged 8-12, they serve dual roles in both creating and resolving conflicts. For older adolescents (13-16), smartphones are more likely to contribute to conflicts than to their resolution, often due to increased complexity in their interactions and a greater emphasis on privacy.

Fact Check

- The study was published in December 2023. (Confirmed by publication date)
- Participants were children aged 4 to 16 years. (Confirmed by methodology)
- The study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan. (Confirmed by methodology)

Mind Map