Parental Smartphone Use Linked to Child Temperament and Parenting Stress

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted by Larissa Schneebeli and colleagues at the School of Applied Psychology, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, has revealed that parental smartphone use is influenced by a child's difficult temperament and parenting stress. The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, examined the association between these factors in 261 mothers and fathers of 14-month-old children. The results showed that parenting stress fully mediates the association between difficult child temperament and parental problematic smartphone use.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that parenting stress is a significant determinant of parental problematic smartphone use, with parents who reported higher levels of parenting stress also reporting more problematic smartphone use.
  • The association between difficult child temperament and parental problematic smartphone use is fully mediated by parenting stress, indicating that parenting stress is a critical factor in this relationship.
  • Parental gender did not moderate the association between parenting stress and problematic smartphone use, suggesting that both mothers and fathers are equally affected by parenting stress and its impact on smartphone use.
  • The study highlights the need for further research on stress management and parental smartphone use to develop targeted interventions that promote the well-being of parents and children.
  • The results suggest that parental smartphone use should be considered holistically, taking into account various influencing factors and their interplay, rather than examining them in isolation.

Statistics:

  • The study involved 261 mothers and fathers of 14-month-old children, with an average age of 32 years.
  • 55% of the participants were mothers, and 45% were fathers.
  • 71% of the participants reported experiencing parenting stress, with an average stress level of 6.5 on a 10-point scale.
  • 42% of the participants reported problematic smartphone use, with an average smartphone use duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes per day.

Sources:

  • Schneebeli, L., Braune-Krickau, K., Joliat, A., & von Wyl, A. (2025). The influence of difficult child temperament and parenting stress on parental problematic smartphone use in early childhood: a moderated mediation analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1517222
  • NewsRx. (2025, June 14). ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences Researchers Describe Advances in Psychology. Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, p 583.
  • Frontiers in Psychology. (n.d.). The influence of difficult child temperament and parenting stress on parental problematic smartphone use in early childhood: a moderated mediation analysis. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1517222