Stop! Collaborate and Listen: A Content Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Articles Investigating Parenting Strategies for Managing Adolescent Internet Use

Parental Responses to Online Sexual Grooming Events Experienced by Their Teenage Children

Online sexual grooming (a manipulative process in which the perpetrator locates a young person and creates an abusive relationship with the child that involves sexual exploitation) poses significant challenges to parents. This study examined how parents of adolescent victims of online sexual grooming experienced guiding their children through the event. This qualitative study, conducted in Israel, was based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 parents who guided their adolescents who had been subjected to online sexual grooming. Results indicate that the parents reported a spectrum of emotions, from insecurity and guilt to a sense of control and satisfaction in managing the situation. Also, the reluctance of some parents to engage with the education system indicates potential trust issues. The study demonstrates the urgent need for targeted interventions to equip parents and educational professionals with the necessary knowledge for prevention and effective response to online sexual grooming. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.

A Parental Competence Scale: Dimensions and Their Association With Adolescent Outcomes

Positive family functioning during adolescence is usually studied analyzing parents' competences and children's relationship abilities. We present an instrument for the assessment of parental competence, which encompasses both educational style and transmission of values. The objective of the study was to analyze its factor structure and to assess its value in predicting adolescent outcomes. We recruited 2,459 high school students, aged 12–15, in 40 schools from Spain, Peru, Mexico, and Chile. They responded to the instrument and to other questions regarding lifestyles. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out in order to assess the internal structure of the instrument, and internal consistency of the resulting dimensions was calculated. Finally, regression analyses were performed to establish associations between the parenting dimensions and adolescent outcomes. Factor analyses showed a consistent structure, with good fit indices in the four countries. The final four factors include parenting styles (Warmth and Demandingness) and education in values (Fortitude and Privacy). Regression analyses showed associations with adolescent outcomes. For example, adolescents' life satisfaction was best predicted by Warmth and Education in fortitude. Practical implications are suggested.

Effect of a Family Media Use Plan on Media Rule Engagement Among Adolescents: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all families use a family media use plan to select and engage with media rules. To date, the effectiveness of this tool in promoting adolescent media rule engagement is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To test the effect of a family media use plan on media rule engagement in adolescents.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This randomized clinical trial with parallel design used the online Qualtrics platform for recruitment, data collection, and intervention delivery. Parents and their children (aged 12 to 17 years) who spoke and read in the English language were recruited, enrolled, and randomized to either the intervention or control group. Parent-adolescent dyads in both groups completed baseline surveys individually, and the dyads in the intervention group completed the family media use plan survey. Baseline recruitment was conducted from April 8, 2019, to May 1, 2019, and follow-up surveys were completed between June 11, 2019, and July 2, 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

The American Academy of Pediatrics family media use plan.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was media rule engagement reported by adolescents. Media rules were extracted from the family media use plan, and adolescents rated each rule (using Likert scales) according to whether the rule was present or followed in their home. Secondary outcomes were adolescent-perceived technology importance and changes in sleep, physical activity, and depression.

RESULTS

A total of 1520 parent-adolescent dyads were enrolled in the trial and randomized to either the intervention or control group. Adolescents had a mean (SD) age of 14.5 (1.6) years, and 789 were female (51.9%) and 1027 were White (67.6%) individuals. Parents had a mean (SD) age of 44.1 (8.5) years, and 995 were women (65.5%) and 1021 were White individuals (67.2%). For media rule engagement, the between-group difference was -0.1 (95% CI, -1.1 to 0.9).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This randomized clinical trial found that completing a family media use plan did not lead to statistically significant changes in media rule engagement for adolescents in the intervention group. Future studies should consider revising the family media use plan and exploring the importance of technology as an intervention outcome.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03881397.