The Relationship Between Children's Tablet Use and Parent-Child Conflict: The Moderating Role of Parental Mediation

• In Event: Cutting Edge Research on Parental Mediation of their Children's Media Use

Abstract

This study examined the relations of children’s tablet use and parents’ mediation of tablet use with parent-child conflict about children’s use of tablets. A sample of 364 parents of children aged two to ten years was used to investigate the relations. The results showed that children who spent more time using the tablet had more conflicts with their parents. Also, children who received high amounts of restrictive mediation had more conflicts with their parents about the tablet. Children who often co-used the tablets with their parents had less conflicts, however. Significant two-way interactions indicated that instructive mediation and co-use decreased parent-child conflicts if children often used a tablet, while restrictive mediation increased parent-child conflicts in this condition.

Authors

• Ine Beyens, U of Leuven - School for Mass Communication Research

• Kathleen Beullens, U of Leuven - School for Mass Communication Research