The impact of parent and child media use on early parent-infant attachment

Association Between Parental Problematic Internet Use and Adolescent Depression

We examined the association between parental problematic internet use (PIU) and adolescent depression and whether this association varied based on internet-related rules. We recruited adolescents ages 13-18 and their parent using national Qualtrics panels (N = 4592 dyads). Measures included the Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale (PRIUSS-3), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the internet specific parenting practice scale (ISPPS). Parental PIU was associated with symptoms of adolescent depression, including suicidal ideation, even when controlling for adolescent PIU (β = 0.35, 95% CI [0.32, 0.38]). Time-related rules moderated this association in a non-linear way where the association was strongest when time-related rules were unclear / mid-range. The moderation effect was linear for content-related rules, where stricter rules were associated with a weaker association between parent PIU and adolescent depression. Results support clinicians assessing parent PIU when treating depressed adolescents and engaging parents in monitoring their adolescents' internet use content.

Attachment security and problematic media use in infancy: A longitudinal study in the United States

Media use during childhood has quickly become a norm across the United States and in other countries. One area still not well understood is the development of problematic (or maladaptive and disruptive) media use in children. This research examines the role of attachment security as a central component in the development of problematic media use over time in a sample of 248 parent-child dyads (9.50% African American, 20.66% Hispanic, 62.81% White, 2.07% Asian, 4.96% other ethnicities). We examined the relationship between attachment security and problematic media use one and 2 years later. We then constructed a mediation model examining parent responsiveness while jointly engaging in media use and during play as mediators between infant attachment security and problematic media use over time. Results suggest that while infant attachment security may be protective against developing problematic media use patterns, this relationship does not seem to be mediated by parent-child interactions while engaging in media or during play.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of preschoolers: A parental guide

Unexpected changes brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have affected humans worldwide. This review attempts to address major parental concerns about the development of preschool-aged children during the pandemic from the perspectives of neuropsychology, consultation, and motor development for preschoolers aged 2–5 years.

Methods

A total of 273 articles including original data, review articles, national and regional perspectives, government websites, and commentaries were considered in this review, of which 117 manuscripts were excluded because they were unrelated to children, adolescents, or COVID -19 pandemic/upper respiratory infections. A total of 156 manuscripts were included after reading the abstract and entire article.

Results

Telehealth could be an effective tool for addressing cognitive and emotional challenges that arise during the pandemic. Online consultations are highlighted for nutritional guidelines and to overcome problems that parents face when caring for children in difficult times. Outdoor activities using sanitisers, proper cleanliness, and following standard operating procedures are recommended. Parental preoccupation with media should be avoided. Interpretation: Many preschoolers show delays in reaching their developmental milestones, and the pandemic has increased parents' concerns, as access to practitioners is limited. Therefore, parents should be encouraged to undergo neuropsychological consultations whenever necessary. This study emphasises important strategies to ensure that children's development is minimally affected while staying in the confined environment of their homes. This study serves as a new guide for parents, as they raise young children in the new normal. Parents should undergo basic yearly physical, neuropsychological, nutritional, and speech checkups.

Moment-to-Moment Observation of Parental Media Use and Parent-Child Interaction: Quality and Media Multitasking

Mobile media proliferation throughout society has infused and complicated environments that formerly were interaction rich (e.g., waiting rooms, restaurants, and playgrounds) with the presence of smart devices. Ethnographic studies have indicated that parental use negatively impacts parent-child interaction quality. The current study reviews and expands on previous research through observing systematically parent-child interaction quality throughout the course of an entire meal (30-140 minutes). Utilizing five-minute intervals, across 93 parent-child dyads, we assessed both within- and between-person moment-to-moment changes in parenting quality (i.e., parental positivity, negativity, and engagement) in the context of parental media use. Between-person, only positivity appeared to decrease when comparing low and high parental media use. Within-person findings indicated that when the parent demonstrated higher than their typical media use, we noted a significant decrease in the quality of engagement and positivity. Differing from ethnographic studies, no change in negativity was identified within-person. Utilizing a lagged interval analysis, we identified a pattern of increased parental engagement with their child following intervals with parental media use, identifying a pattern of parental media multitasking heretofore only observed in ethnographic studies. Implications of findings in the context of previous research and future directions are discussed.

Mindful Parenting and Parent Technology Use: Examining the Intersections and Outlining Future Research Directions

Popular media attention and scientific research in both mindful parenting and technology use in the context of parenting has expanded in the 21st century; however, these two streams of research have largely evolved separately from one another. Thus, in this conceptual paper, we integrate the research on mindful parenting with that on parents’ technology use and parenting to examine how parent technology use may impact or be linked with aspects of mindful parenting. Mindful parenting theory outlines five key components: listening with full attention, self-regulation in the parent–child relationship, emotional awareness of self and child, nonjudgmental acceptance of self and child, and compassion for self and child. Parent technology use, in particular the use of mobile devices, has the potential to impact all five elements of mindful parenting. However, the relationship between mindful parenting and technology is complex, and there can be both positive and negative implications of parent technology use on mindful parenting. On the positive side, technology use might help parents regulate their emotions; access support; and develop more empathy, acceptance, and compassion for themselves and their children. Yet, parent technology use also has the potential to create distractions and disrupt parent–child interactions, which may make it more difficult for parents to listen with full attention, maintain awareness of their own and their child’s emotions, and calmly respond to child behaviors with intentionality. Technology use may also create more opportunities for social comparisons and judgement, making it more difficult for parents to accept their children nonjudgmentally and have compassion for their children as they are. Future research is needed to understand the conditions under which technology use can hinder or promote mindful parenting and how interventions can promote mindful parenting skills and a positive uses of technology.