The Amazing Effect of 'Gajok Dantokbang'... Actually Enhances Unity and Bonding

Research by Professor Jo Jaehee and Sogang University Faculty
"Helps Strengthen Bonds Among Family Members"

A study has found that KakaoTalk helps strengthen bonds among family members.

Professor Jaehee Cho's research team at Sogang University published a paper titled "The Effect of Motivations for Family Interaction through KakaoTalk on Family Relationship Satisfaction" on the 14th at the Korean Society for Journalism and Communication Studies.

In November last year, the research team conducted an online survey targeting 324 individuals aged 20 to 60 to identify the structural relationships among motivations for using KakaoTalk, perceived satisfaction with family communication, cohesion among family members, and family relationship satisfaction.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The motivations for using KakaoTalk were broadly categorized into information seeking, self-expression, media multiplexity (sharing multimedia with desired recipients), entertainment, and ideological pursuit.

As a result, media multiplexity, entertainment, and ideological pursuit were found to have a positive effect on satisfaction with communication with family.

The research team explained, "Light entertainment motivations and efforts to express personal interests, values, or beliefs are all factors that make communication with family feel positive."

Additionally, satisfaction with family communication was confirmed to have a positive impact on both family cohesion and family relationship satisfaction.

The research team stated, "Digital media in modern society influences various aspects of individuals' social and family lives, and this study empirically demonstrated the role of interaction through KakaoTalk in family relationships."

They added, "This study shows the possibility that KakaoTalk, through the convenience of instant messaging, entertainment, and communication functions, may influence interpersonal relationship satisfaction beyond simply satisfaction with family communication."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.