Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Feb 23, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Feb 23, 2024 - Apr 19, 2024
Date Accepted: Oct 28, 2024
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Parental Technoference and Child Problematic Media Use: Meta-analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
The phenomenon of parental technoference, where parents' use of technology interrupts family interactions, has been suggested to influence children's media habits negatively. However, the extent of this relationship and its implications for child problematic media use remains unclear.
Objective:
To systematically examine the relationship between parental technoference and child problematic media use, and to identify moderating factors such as age, parental technoference group, and type of problematic media use that could influence this relationship.
Methods:
Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies published before October 2023 that explored the relationship between parental technoference and child problematic media use. Forty-two studies comprising 47,212 participants (mean age 13.37 years) were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to assess the association between parental technoference and child problematic media use, and moderation analyses were conducted to explore the effects of age, parental technoference group, and type of problematic media use.
Results:
The meta-analysis revealed a positive association between parental technoference and child problematic media use (r = 0.282, 95% CI = [0.250, 0.313]). Age, parental technoference group, and type of problematic media use significantly moderated this relationship. The association was stronger with increasing age of the child, when both parents engaged in technoference as opposed to only one, and for children's general problematic media use compared to specific problematic media use.
Conclusions:
The findings underscore the significant impact of parental technoference on child problematic media use, highlighting the need for increased awareness and targeted interventions to mitigate its effects. Addressing parental technoference could play a crucial role in preventing problematic media use among children, thereby supporting healthier developmental outcomes and mental health. Clinical Trial: Prospero CRD42023471997.
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