Influences of Parental Monitoring Styles and Technoference on Early Adolescent Social Technology Use

• In Event: The Relationship Between Screen-Based Media on Child and Adolescent Development

Abstract

Studies about parental media monitoring are critical to prevent potential negative adolescent outcomes. However, most studies do not distinguish between subtypes of parental mediation styles. More research is needed to examine how contextual factors (e.g., technoference) affects perceived problematic internet behaviors. In a mixed-method study of 227 parent surveys and 31 parent interviews, we found that restrictive parental monitoring styles were positively related to adolescent problematic internet use. Frequency of phone use during mealtime by both parents and adolescent was a significant moderator. Qualitative results demonstrated that parents endorsed restrictive monitoring behaviors much more often than active or deferent monitoring, with the latter described in ways that showed hesitancy and second-guessing of this approach during the early adolescent years.

Authors

• Maya Hernandez, University of California - Irvine

• Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, Wellesley Centers for Women

• Linda Charmaraman, Wellesley Centers for Women