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

Suzanne M Geurts; Ina M Koning; Helen G M Vossen; Regina J J M van den Eijnden

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152318

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

Compr Psychiatry. 2022 Jul:116:152318. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152318. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Authors

Suzanne M Geurts¹, Ina M Koning², Helen G M Vossen³, Regina J J M van den Eijnden⁴

Affiliations

¹ Interdisciplinary Social Science, Youth Studies, Utrecht University, Padualaan 14, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: s.m.geurts@uu.nl.
² Interdisciplinary Social Science, Youth Studies, Utrecht University, Padualaan 14, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: i.koning@uu.nl.
³ Education and Pedagogy, Clinical Child and Family Studies, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: h.g.m.vossen@uu.nl.
⁴ Interdisciplinary Social Science, Youth Studies, Utrecht University, Padualaan 14, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: r.j.j.m.vandeneijnden@uu.nl.

PMID: 35537295
DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152318

Abstract

Aim: 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 the relative contribution to adolescents' at-risk/problematic social media use (SMU) of general and Internet-specific family factors related to three different family (sub)systems: parent-child (Internet-specific rule-setting, reactive restrictions towards Internet use, co-use, adolescents' involvement in rule-setting and positive parenting), parent (parental screen time, phubbing, stress, anxiety and depression) and family (family functioning, family intactness and SES) (sub)system.

Methods: Questionnaire data came from 403 adolescents (M = 13.51, SD = 2.15) and 396 parents (M = 46.59, SD = 5.29) who participated in wave 1 of the Dutch 'Digital Family project'.

Results: Logistic regression analyses showed that only factors related to the parent-child subsystem remained significant in predicting being an at-risk/problematic social media user when examining predictors related to the parent-child, parent and family (sub)system simultaneously. Specifically, general and Internet-specific parenting practices contributed to the prediction above and beyond each other. Positive parenting and Internet-specific rule-setting seem protective, while parental reactive restrictions towards Internet use could be a risk factor. Positive parenting showed the largest effect size.

Conclusion: The results suggest that parental behaviors directed towards the child should be a focus of attention in prevention of adolescents' problematic SMU. In addition, our findings highlight the importance of untangling restrictive mediation (impulsive, in the moment, attempts to limit SMU versus communicating clear rules in advance) when examining its effects.

Keywords: Adolescent problematic social media use; Family context; Family system; Parent subsystem; Parent-child subsystem.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior*
Humans
Parent-Child Relations
Parenting
Parents
Social Media*
Surveys and Questionnaires