Computers and the family life: A family development perspective

The purpose of this paper is to review issues and research findings related to the effects of computer use on the family. One of the major challenges for such an undertaking is to develop a framework with which to organize re levant data and issues. The organization of this paper is based on the util ization of stages of family development. In addition to outlining seven sta ges of family development and associated issues pertaining to computers, pr opositions linking family development and ecological theory are used to exp lain the linkage between technological change, role change, and family deve lopment. This paper suggests a program of research for family scholars base d on the theoretical orientation developed in this paper along with the cur rent empirical findings.