Effects of Problematic Smartphone Use, Smartphone Interference in Parenting, and Parental Attachment to Their Young Child
Abstract
Smartphones have become more and more integrated into not only society, but also parents’ lives, causing interruptions and dysfunction amongst families. This study aimed to understand the relationship between problematic smartphone use, smartphone interference in parenting, and parental attachment to child among a sample of 132 parents (n = 132) between the ages of 18 and 29 years. It was hypothesized that smartphone interference in various areas of parenting would mediate the relationship between problematic smartphone use and parents’ perceived attachment to child. The results of this study found that problematic smartphone use was positively and significantly associated with smartphone interference in parenting and negatively significantly associated with parental attachment to child. However, smartphone interference and parental attachment to child did not have a significant relationship and did not mediate the relationship between problematic smartphone use and parental attachment to child. Control variables of parents’ perceived stress, income, and anxiety were significantly correlated with parental attachment to child. Clinical implications, limitations, and future directions for research are discussed.
Degree
M.Sc.
Advisors
Edwards, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Behavioral psychology|Clinical psychology|Individual & family studies|Information Technology|Mental health|Psychology|Web Studies
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