A new Canadian study reveals that when parents are perceived as preoccupied with their phones or other technology during family interactions, it can negatively impact the mental health of children aged 9 to 11 years. This phenomenon, known as “technoference,” is associated with increased symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity in children.
Lead author Audrey-Ann Deneault, PhD, an assistant professor of social psychology at the University of Montreal, highlights the significance of this issue. “While much attention is given to children’s screen time, parents’ own screen habits are often overlooked,” she said. “Research indicates that parents spend one-third of their time on screens even when with their children, which can lead to missed moments when their child needs them.”
The study, published online on August 16 in JAMA Network Open, is part of the All Our Families project. It assessed the impact of parental technoference on a cohort of 1,303 adolescents from Calgary, tracked from ages 9 to 11. Participants included mothers who were recruited during pregnancy between May 2008 and December 2010, with their children providing assent to participate.
During assessments, adolescents completed questionnaires regarding their perceptions of parental technoference and their own mental health, including anxiety, depression, inattention, and hyperactivity. The researchers focused on the effect sizes of these associations rather than statistical significance.
Results showed that higher levels of perceived parental technoference at ages 9 and 10 were linked to increased anxiety at ages 10 and 11. Furthermore, technoference was associated with higher levels of hyperactivity and inattention in the adolescents. Gender did not significantly impact these findings.
Deneault suggests that technoference can create a cycle where adolescents’ mental health issues may lead to increased parental distraction. “The relationship between technoference and youth mental health is complex,” she said. “Higher anxiety in adolescents can lead to more technoference from parents, indicating that both may be interacting and exacerbating each other.”
The study underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to address these issues. “It’s crucial for both adolescents and parents to receive support on mental health, technology use, and improving parent-child interactions,” Deneault added.
Future research should explore the causal relationships between adolescent mental health and parental technoference, as well as the mechanisms involved, specific activities related to technoference, and developmental stages.
Nicole Letourneau, PhD, a research professor at the University of Calgary, who was not involved in the study but has examined the impact of technoference on child development, emphasizes the importance of parental involvement. “When parents are distracted by technology, they might miss subtle cues that signal their child’s needs,” she noted. “Understanding these dynamics is essential for promoting better mental health outcomes in children.”
Brandon McDaniel, PhD, a senior research scientist at the Parkview Mirro Center for Research & Innovation, also suggests a balanced view. “Parents use technology for various positive reasons, such as seeking support and managing stress. It’s important for practitioners to address both the beneficial and potentially harmful aspects of technology use,” he said.
The All Our Families study received support from Alberta Innovates — Health Solutions Interdisciplinary Team Grants and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, with additional funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, a Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development COVID-19 grant, Alberta Innovates grant, and a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. None of the researchers reported any relevant financial conflicts of interest.
