Parent Media Use and Adolescent Depression

Question: Can parental smartphone and social media use impact youth mental health?

Answer: Yes, our previous research project found that parental use of smartphones and social media was associated with the mental health of tweens and teens. Multiple studies (see references below) looking at tweens and teens’ perceptions of their parents’ use of electronic devices show links between parents’ smartphone usage and adolescents’ depressive or other mental health symptoms. 

Generally, when adolescents reported greater interference from their parents’ use of smartphones and other devices, they also reported higher levels of mental health symptoms, such as depressive symptoms.

Additionally, when both parents tend to use mobile phones around their children instead of interacting with them, tweens and teens are more likely to display externalizing behaviors like aggression and conduct problems than when only one parent is overly engaged with their phone.

The good news is that these studies show how important parents' time and attention is for tweens and teens. Parent-child relationships are important at all ages and stages of child development, but the teen years can be challenging for parents. Teens can be busy, distracted, or seem indifferent at times, but they are also relying on parents for support, comfort and care. Thus, parents can know that the effort they put into finding undistracted time with their teen is important to their child’s health and well-being.

For more about the impact of parents’ smartphone and digital media use on children, we recommend this previous portal response: 

• Healthy Parenting & Digital Media Use

Steps Parents Can Take for Healthier Smartphone Use

Adapted from the University of Michigan, Plugged-In Parenting: How Parental Smartphone Use May Affect Kids, parents can take the following steps to for healthier smartphone use:

1. Set boundaries on smartphone use. Create a Family Media Plan to facilitate discussion around safe and practical media use that works for a family’s specific needs. This plan can include designating times of day or spaces where you (parents and kids!) agree not to use devices such as dinnertime, the hour before bed, or on short car trips.
2. Use technology to block specific mobile use. Consider using a tool or app to help spot where you might be spending more time than you intend or to automatically pause notifications or other tech-related distractions during family time.
3. Identify stressful smartphone use. Choose to use your smartphone on things that can be stressful during times when your kids are busy doing other things. This will allow you to take time to process that information without worrying about being distracted or reacting negatively while trying to engage with your family. 

References

• Dixon, D., Sharp, C. A., Hughes, K., & Hughes, J. C. (2023). Parental technoference and adolescents’ mental health and violent behaviour: a scoping review. BMC public health, 23(1), 2053.  
• Li, B., Wang, P., Xie, X., Chen, Y., Wang, W., Liu, C., ... & Mao, N. (2022). Father phubbing and adolescents’ depressive symptoms: perceived father acceptance as a mediator and resilience as a moderator. The Journal of Psychology, 156(5), 349-366.  
• Wang, X., Gao, L., Yang, J., Zhao, F., & Wang, P. (2020). Parental phubbing and adolescents’ depressive symptoms: Self-esteem and perceived social support as moderators. Journal of youth and adolescence, 49, 427-437.  
• Yang, W., Tang, L., Shen, X., Niu, G., Shi, X., Jin, S., ... & Yuan, Z. (2023). Parental Phubbing and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms during COVID-19: A Serial Meditating Model. Behavioral Sciences, 13(5), 371.  
• Zhang, J., Dong, C., Jiang, Y., Zhang, Q., Li, H., & Li, Y. (2023). Parental Phubbing and child social-emotional adjustment: A meta-analysis of studies conducted in China. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 4267-4285.   

Age: 13-17

Topics: Parents, social media use, smartphone use, adolescent depression

Role: Clinician