Between Screens and Parenthood: Pre- vs. Post COVID-19 Analysis of Adolescents' Screen Time, Happiness, and Gender.

• In Event: 20220 - Section on Communication, Information Technology, and Media Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Section on Communication, Information Technology, and Media Sociology Roundtable V: Digital phenomena, broadly construed

Abstract

This study examines how weekday and weekend screen time is associated with American adolescents’ parenthood desires, focusing on happiness, gender, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from 6,698 12th graders in the Monitoring the Future surveys (2018–2023), it compares pre-pandemic (2018–2020) and post-pandemic (2021–2023) patterns through separate multinomial logistic regressions by gender. Findings reveal that greater weekday screen time among very happy men after the pandemic is linked to an increased likelihood of wanting children, whereas very happy women show a reversed relationship. Weekend screen time also shifts from a negative association for less happy women pre-pandemic to a marginally positive one afterward. These reversals underscore how emotional well-being interacts with digital habits, showing that screen time’s impact on future family goals depends on individual traits and situational factors. This highlights the importance of considering not just usage volume but also the broader context in which digital media is consumed.

Author

• Seunghwan Yoo, Louisiana State University