Rules, role models or overall climate at home? Relative associations of different family aspects with adolescents' problematic social media use

• DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152318
• Publication Date: 2022-04-28T15:37:00Z
• Authors: Suzanne M. Geurts; Ina M. Koning; Helen G.M. Vossen; Regina J.J.M. van...
• Keywords: Protective factor

This study aimed to enhance knowledge on which aspects of the family context are most relevant in identifying at-risk/problematic social media users among adolescents. Therefore, we examined relative contribution adolescents' use (SMU) general and Internet-specific factors related three different (sub)systems: parent-child (Internet-specific rule-setting, reactive restrictions towards Internet use, co-use, involvement rule-setting positive parenting), parent (parental screen time, phubbing, stress, anxiety depression) (family functioning, intactness SES) (sub)system. Questionnaire data came from 403 adolescents (M = 13.51, SD 2.15) 396 parents 46.59, 5.29) who participated wave 1 Dutch ‘Digital Family project’. Logistic regression analyses showed that only subsystem remained significant predicting being an user when examining predictors parent-child, (sub)system simultaneously. Specifically, parenting practices contributed prediction above beyond each other. Positive seem protective, while parental could be a risk factor. largest effect size. The results suggest behaviors directed child should focus attention prevention problematic SMU. In addition, our findings highlight importance untangling restrictive mediation (impulsive, moment, attempts limit SMU versus communicating clear rules advance) its effects.