Examining the Relationship Between Parental Screen Time and Child Behaviors and Relationships
Sarah Branco
Co-Presenters: Meital Oshri, Kathleen Allbert
College: The College of Health Professions and Human Services
Major: School and Clinical Psychology (Psy.D)
Faculty Research Mentor: Keri Giordano
Abstract:
In the well known Still Face Study, it was demonstrated that lack of parental responsivity can lead to distress and externalizing behaviors in young children (Adamson & Prick, 2003). Increased parental screen use has been associated with decreased parental responsivity (Attai et al., 2020). Our study examines whether parental screen use impacts reported child behaviors and parental attachment. We will also examine whether the degree of screen use impacts these factors. Parents of children ages 2-5 in the tri-state area (NJ, NY, CT) will be invited to complete a survey asking questions about their screen time usage, their child’s external behaviors, and the attachment between them and their child. It is predicted that there will be a relationship between screen time usage and attachment; parents who spend more time on their devices will have a worse attachment with their child. It is also hypothesized that parental screen time usage will be associated with increased external behaviors in their children; parents who spend more time on their devices will have children with worse behaviors. This research will help provide a better understanding of the effects of parental technology usage on children.Keywords:Attachment; externalizing behaviors; screen time; young children