Author
Uzundağ, B. A., Oranç, C., Keşşafoğlu, D., Altundal, Merve Nur
Publication Date
2022-11
Publication Place
-
Springer
Subject
Early childhood, Mobile technology, Parental stress, Parent–child interactions, Smartphones
Type
Periodical
Language
English
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Özyeğin University
Library Asset ID
1062-1024
Record ID
2e7aac7d-45fd-4753-b0b9-8e76fbc765c0
Date
2022-11
Sample Text
A growing body of research indicates that parents’ smartphone use is associated with interruptions in parent–child interactions and lower levels of parental responsiveness, which may adversely affect children’s cognitive and socioemotional development. Studies suggest that parent–child interactions are more frequently interrupted by the use of screen-based devices if parents experience more stress specifically resulting from the demands of parenting, yet there are unexamined questions. Is parents’ general daily stress related to technology-based interruptions in parent–child interactions? If so, does parents’ use of mobile technology mediate this relationship? In this first study testing the mediating role of parental use of mobile phones between parental stress and technology-based interruptions in parent–child interactions, we collected data from 604 mothers of children younger than age six with an online survey. Results showed that controlling for child age, family income, mothers’ employment status, household size, and maternal and paternal education, more stressed mothers reported using their mobile phones more problematically (e.g., not being able to resist checking messages), which was linked to more frequent perceived interruptions in the interactions with their children. Our results suggest that using mobile phones may serve as an outlet for stressed parents and is related to disruptions in the flow of parent–child interactions.
DOI
10.1007/s10826-022-02371-5
Cilt
31
