TTLV: Application of group social work in enhancing parent-child communication in internet-affected families in Hanoi.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name: Tran Thi Ha May 2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: July 25, 1991

4. Place of birth: Nghe An province

5. Decision on student admission No. 2606/QD-XHNV dated November 26, 2021, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process: decisions regarding extending the study period for graduate students:

- Decision No. 5158/QD-XHNV, signed on December 6, 2023, effective from December 29, 2023 to June 28, 2024

- Decision No. 2843/QD-XHNV, signed on June 10, 2024, effective from June 30, 2024 to December 29, 2024

- Decision No. 6958/QD-XHNV, signed on December 16, 2024, effective from December 29, 2024 to June 28, 2025

- Decision No. 4670/QD-XHNV, signed on June 24, 2025, effective from June 29, 2025 to December 28, 2025

7. Thesis Title: Application of Group Social Work in Enhancing Parent-Child Communication in Internet-Affected Families in Hanoi City

8. Major: Applied Social Work; Code: 8760101.01

9. Scientific supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thai Lan, Deputy Head of Department - Faculty of Sociology and Social Work

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This thesis investigates the impact of the Internet on the effectiveness of communication between parents and children in urban families, and also tests the application of group social work as an intervention to improve family communication in the digital context. The study is based on extensive data from Project 504.05-2020.301 (Nguyen Thi Thai Lan, 2021) with a sample of 464 parent-child pairs in three major cities, combined with surveys and in-depth interviews with 10 parent-child pairs with children in grade 8 in Cau Giay district, Hanoi, of which 6 pairs participated in the intervention practice.

The research findings reveal that the internet has become an integral part of urban family life, supporting learning, communication, and information sharing, while also creating significant challenges for face-to-face communication between parents and children. At both data levels, family communication tends to be functional, focusing on learning and work, while content related to emotions, psychological stress, and personal needs is less frequently shared. The constant presence of personal devices in shared living spaces increases communication disruptions, reduces attention spans, and diminishes mutual understanding among family members. Parents generally rate communication quality more positively than their children, reflecting a generational gap in the context of internet use.

Qualitative data from in-depth interviews revealed that many families struggle to establish two-way dialogue; communication easily falls into a question-and-answer pattern, conflicts revolve around time and content spent on the internet, while there is a lack of unified family rules. Parents are also hesitant in their role as companions to their children in the digital space, and children tend to turn to friends or the internet when facing difficulties instead of sharing with their parents, increasing feelings of distance and diminishing emotional connection.

Based on this, the thesis developed and tested an 8-session group social work model with 6 parent-child pairs, focusing on developing positive communication skills, establishing rules for internet use, and enhancing direct interaction within the family. Qualitative evaluation results after the intervention showed the model was feasible and suitable for the urban family context. Most families reported improvements in the frequency and quality of conversations, positive changes in listening and sharing attitudes, and a reduction in conflicts related to internet use. The collaborative development and implementation of the "Family Internet Usage Rules" helped shift management from imposition to negotiation and consensus, thereby increasing cooperation and responsibility among children.

The research findings contribute to the empirical evidence showing that group social work is a suitable and potentially effective approach to improving parent-child communication in the context of increasing internet usage in urban Vietnamese families.

11. Practical applications:

The findings of this thesis can be applied in the practice of family social work and school social work in urban areas. The tested group social work model can be adapted and applied in schools, social work centers, or communities as a form of support for parents and children to improve communication skills, establish rules for internet use, and strengthen family bonds. Furthermore, the content and intervention techniques of the model can be used as a reference for social workers, homeroom teachers, and school counselors in supporting families experiencing communication difficulties due to the impact of the internet.

12. Future research directions: None

13. Published works related to the thesis: None.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Tran Thi Ha May 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: 25 July 1991 4. Place of birth: Nghe An province

5. Admission decision number: 2606/QD-XHNV Dated 26 November 2021

6. Changes in academic process: Decisions on extending the study period for postgraduate students:

- Decision No. 5158/QD-XHNV, signed on December 6, 2023, extended from December 29, 2023 to June 28, 2024

- Decision No. 2843/QD-XHNV, signed on June 10, 2024, extended from June 30, 2024 to December 29, 2024

- Decision No. 6958/QD-XHNV, signed on December 16, 2024, extended from December 29, 2024 to June 28, 2025

- Decision No. 4670/QD-XHNV, signed on June 24, 2025, extended from June 29, 2025 to December 28, 2025

7. Official thesis title: Application of Group Social Work in Enhancing Communication between Parents and Children in Families Affected by the Internet in Hanoi City

8. Major: Applied-oriented Social Work 9. Code: 8760101.01

10. Supervisors: Associate Professor, PhD. Nguyen Thi Thai Lan
Vice Head of the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

This scientific thesis examines the impact of the Internet on the effectiveness of communication between parents and children in urban families and experimentally applies group social work as an intervention approach to improve family communication in the digital context. The study builds upon large-scale data from Project No. 504.05-2020.301 (Nguyen Thi Thai Lan, 2021), involving 464 parent–child pairs in three major cities, and is supplemented by surveys and in-depth interviews with 10 parent–child pairs whose children are in Grade 8 in Cau Giay District, Hanoi, of whom 6 pairs participated in the intervention phase.

The findings indicate that the Internet has become an integral part of urban family life, providing substantial support for learning, communication, and information sharing, while simultaneously posing significant challenges to face-to-face communication between parents and children. Across both datasets, family communication tends to be functional in nature, focusing mainly on academic and work-related issues, whereas topics related to emotions, psychological pressure, and personal needs are less frequently shared. The pervasive presence of personal digital devices in shared family spaces increases communication interruptions, reduces attention, and diminishes mutual understanding among family members. Parents generally assess the quality of communication more positively than their children, reflecting a perceptual gap between generations in the context of Internet use.

Qualitative data from in-depth interviews reveal that many families struggle to establish two-way dialogue; communication often falls into patterns of questioning and avoidance, with conflicts arising around time spent online and types of online content, in the absence of clearly agreed family rules. Parents experience difficulty fulfilling their role as digital companions, while children tend to turn to peers or the Internet rather than to their parents when facing difficulties, thereby increasing emotional distance and weakening family bonds.

Based on these findings, the thesis designed and piloted an eight-session group social work intervention with six parent–child pairs, focusing on developing positive communication skills, establishing family Internet-use rules, and strengthening direct interaction within the family. Post-intervention qualitative evaluation indicates that the model is feasible and appropriate for the urban family context. Most participating families reported improvements in the frequency and quality of conversations, positive changes in listening and sharing attitudes, and a reduction in Internet-related conflicts. The collaborative development and implementation of a “Family Internet Use Agreement” facilitates a shift from controlling approaches to negotiation and consensus, thereby enhancing children's cooperation and sense of responsibility.

Overall, the study contributes initial empirical evidence demonstrating that group social work is a suitable and promising approach for improving parent–child communication in the context of increasing Internet use among urban families in Vietnam.

12. Practical applicability:

The findings of this thesis can be applied in family social work practice and school-based social work in urban areas. The piloted group social work model can be adapted and implemented in schools, social work centers, or residential communities as a form of support to help parents and children improve communication skills, establish family Internet-use rules, and strengthen family cohesion. In addition, the intervention content and techniques may serve as reference materials for social workers, homeroom teachers, and school counselors when supporting families experiencing communication difficulties related to Internet use.

13. Further research directions: None

14. Thesis-related publications: None