The Facilitating Role of Communication Technology in Nonresident Father–Teen Relationships

The goal of this study was to understand communication technology’s role in nonresident father–teen relationships. A qualitative study explored the meanings teens attributed to technology-mediated interactions with their nonresident fathers. The study found that teens’ interactions mediated by contemporary communication technologies helped maintain connections with their fathers in multiple ways, increased intimacy, helped them feel part of the same world, facilitated family interaction, and allowed teens to control access to parts of their lives. Results and implications for research and practice are discussed.