We started Chatbooks 5 years ago because we loved looking at family photos with our kids. Looking at photos together just made us feel closer, even if we couldn't really explain why.
Today, together with HP and with guidance from 2 university psychology professors, we're excited to share the results of new research that finds looking at photos together is a powerful way to strengthen family relationships.
In many ways, this finding will seem obvious to parents and kids who already love photos. But this new research with participation from almost 16,000 families - reveals a range of surprising benefits and helps explain why photos make us feel more connected.
The mission of Chatbooks is to strengthen families, and we hope this new research inspires you to continue to bring the magic of photos into your family's daily life.
Nate and Vanessa Quigley
Chatbooks co-founders
Chatbooks and HP launched the Printed Photo Impact study to better understand the effects of looking at printed photos (as compared to digital photos), with a focus on children and families.
The research study was designed and executed with the support of developmental psychologists. Chatbooks first conducted focus groups and research interviews in several states in order to better understand how families experience looking at printed photos. Common themes from this qualitative research were then incorporated into an online survey.
For this report, Chatbooks and HP surveyed 15,591 families to explore their habits printing photos, their experience interacting with printed vs. digital photos, and their emotions and associated behaviors during or prompted by these interactions. All questions were multiple choice or rated on a Likert scale.
The results of the study were analyzed to draw conclusions around the immediate and long-term effects of interacting with printed photos. This study was conducted in 2019.
Looking at and talking about printed photos is an activity that strengthens feelings of connection and closeness for families. A strong majority of respondents agree that family connection is initiated by printed photos better than by digital photos.
Families connect more when looking at printed photos
Printed photos help families feel closer and more connected
When I look at photos of my family, I:
Feel closer to my family
Appreciate my family more
Feel a stronger connection to my child(ren)
Feel a stronger connection to my spouse/partner
Printed photos help families to connect better than digital photos do
Agree that looking at printed photos tends to be a shared experience
More people agree that looking at printed photos is a shared experience vs. looking at digital photos.
Parents Report Positive Benefits for Children
A majority of parents report that looking at and talking about printed photos is an activity that their children enjoy, and which has immediate emotional impact and long-term psychological benefit.
Children love looking at and talking
about printed photos
My child loves looking at photos of themself
My child likes to look at photos and talk about them together
Parents report their children experience increased self-esteem and stronger sense of identity from looking at printed photos
When my child looks at printed photos of our family, it:
Increases my child's self esteem
Gives my child a stronger sense of their own identity
Parents report that their children experience additional positive benefits from looking at printed photos
When my child looks at photos of our family, it:
Strengthens my child's connection to our family
Enhances my child's imagination and storytelling abilities
Parents report that their children experience additional positive benefits from looking at printed photos
When my children look at printed photos they feel:
Happy
Loved
Special
Valued as a member of our family
A sense of belonging in our family
Important
Parents Experience Positive Benefits Themselves
Parents report that looking at printed photos of their family increases their belief in their capabilities as a parent, a concept known as parental self-efficacy.
High parental self-efficacy is linked to positive outcomes for families including reduced parental anxiety, higher quality parent-child interactions, and higher self-esteem for children.
Looking at family photos helps parents feel like good parents
Looking at photos of my family makes me feel like I'm doing a good job as a parent
Parents report emotional benefits from looking at printed photos
After looking at printed photos with my child(ren):
I feel more confident that I am a good parent
I feel softer and more forgiving towards my child(ren)
I feel more realized as a parent
Studies show that when parents believe in their abilities as parents, there are positive benefits for both parents and children
Printed Photos Spark Family Conversations
Parents report that looking at printed photos sparks elaborative reminiscing conversations about the past with their children.
There is robust evidence to show that when parents discuss the past in this detailed, emotional, and collaborative style, there are positive benefits for kids such as improved language and memory skills. Additionally, knowledge of family history is linked to several positive outcomes for children and adolescents including higher self-esteem and lower rates of depression and anxiety.
Looking at printed photos sparks "elaborative reminiscing" conversations between parents and children
When we look at printed photos together:
It sparks telling other stories/memories
We tell stories about our family
My child asks me questions
We talk about the emotions we experienced (such as happiness, frustration, sadness)
I ask questions of my child
Studies show that when parents discuss the past in a detailed, emotional, and collaborative way, there are positive benefits for kids
Printed photos help parents share their family history with their children
Because I have printed photos:
My child(ren) know more about things that have happened in our family
I reminisce more frequently
My child(ren) know more about their extended family
I talk with my child(ren) about the people and events in my life more frequently than I otherwise would
Printed photos are a helpful tool for parents to talk about the past with their children
Talking about photos with my child(ren) gives them access to their past
Printed photos are a helpful tool to share our family story with my child(ren)
Research links several positive outcomes for children and adolescents who reminisce about the past with their family, and thus have a strong knowledge of their family history
Printed Photos Enhance Memory
Respondents reported that looking at printed photos helps them, and their children, to remember important life events.
Printed photos enhance memory for parents and children
Looking at printed photos:
Helps me remember events and details that I would have otherwise forgotten
Helps me remember all the things our family has been through together, both good and hard
Helps my child have more memories of their childhood
Looking at Printed Photos Is Rated More Positively Than Looking at Digital Photos
When asked about their preferences and interactions with printed photos vs. digital photos, respondents iden tified key differences. Looking at printed photos (in direct comparison to digital photos) prompts more positive emotions, causes fewer negative emotions, and is more often a shared activity.
A majority of people prefer looking at printed photos over digital photos
6
X
More adults prefer looking at printed photos over digital photos
4
X
More kids prefer looking at printed photos over digital photos
*according to their parents
Parents feel better showing their children printed photos vs. digital photos
82%
agree
I feel better about showing my child(ren) photos of themselves printed out (vs. on my phone)
Positive emotions are reported more frequently when looking at printed photos vs. digital photos
Happy
Loved
Grateful
Connected
Loving
Fulfilled
Negative emotions are reported more frequently when looking at digital photos vs. printed photos
When looking at digital photos vs. printed photos, respondents report feeling...
Generations Experience Printed and Digital Photos Differently
Millennials experience negative emotions when looking at digital photos more frequently than other generations. They also prefer looking at printed photos more than Gen X or Baby Boomers.
Millennials prefer looking at printed photos more than Baby Boomers
Millenials
Gen X
Baby Boomers
Millennials experience the negative impacts of looking at digital photos more severely than other generations
When looking at digital photos (vs. printed photos), respondents, cut by generation, report feeling:
Looking at digital photos (vs. printed photos) causes Millennials to feel:
2019 Photo Printing Habits
The study revealed several insights about photo printing habits in 2019, including who and what is featured most in printed photos.
A majority of people print everyday moments
What was captured most often in the photos you printed in the last 12 months?
Everyday moments
Vacations or travel
Family portraits
Special events
Holidays
After immediate family members, pets are featured most often in printed photos
Most parents admit to taking and printing fewer photos of their youngest children
Fewer
Same
More
For further information or acess to additional data from this report, please email hello@chatbooks.com
