From a mother's point of view: Psycho-social predictors of maternal monitoring strategy and adolescents' electronic media use

Konstantin Schenkel; Theda Radtke; Aleksandra Luszczynska; Janina Lüscher; Ewa Kulis; Urte Scholz

doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.02.008

From a mother's point of view: Psycho-social predictors of maternal monitoring strategy and adolescents' electronic media use

J Adolesc. 2021 Apr:88:134-145. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.02.008. Epub 2021 Mar 25.

Authors

Konstantin Schenkel¹, Theda Radtke², Aleksandra Luszczynska³, Janina Lüscher⁴, Ewa Kulis⁵, Urte Scholz⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Social and Health Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/14, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: konstantin.schenkel@psychologie.uzh.ch.
² Health Psychology and Applied Diagnostic, Institute of Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, 42119, Wuppertal, Germany. Electronic address: radtke@uni-wuppertal.de.
³ Wroclaw Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 30b Ostrowskiego Street, PL, 53-238, Wroclaw, Poland; Trauma, Health, & Hazards Center, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, 1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs, 80918, CO, USA. Electronic address: aluszczy@uccs.edu.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Social and Health Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/14, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: janina.luescher@psychologie.uzh.ch.
⁵ Wroclaw Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 30b Ostrowskiego Street, PL, 53-238, Wroclaw, Poland. Electronic address: ekulis@swps.edu.pl.
⁶ Department of Psychology, Social and Health Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/14, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland; University Research Priority Program Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Andreasstrasse 15, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: urte.scholz@psychologie.uzh.ch.

PMID: 33773334
DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.02.008

Abstract

Introduction: As early adolescents have limited capacities for self-regulating electronic media use (EMU), parental monitoring is needed. However, research has shown that parents do not exert much monitoring over their children's EMU. A theory-based approach may help to identify key predictors of parental monitoring and its effects on adolescents' EMU. Applying the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), this study examined maternal psycho-social predictors of maternal monitoring of EMU and, subsequently, children's EMU.

Methods: In Switzerland, 105 mother-adolescent dyads participated in an observational study with two time points (baseline, T1, and follow-up, T2) two weeks apart. Mothers (M_age = 43.83 years, SD = 4.45) reported on their HAPA variables and their children's EMU. Adolescents (M_age = 12.13 years, SD = 0.99; 60 girls and 45 boys) also reported their EMU.

Results: Maternal outcome expectancies (T1) for less EMU were positively related (β = 0.25) with their intention to monitor EMU (T1). Further, intention was positively associated (β = 0.45) with planning to monitor EMU (T1) which in turn predicted marginally (β = 0.18) maternal monitoring (T2). No significant associations were found between maternal monitoring (T2) and adolescents' EMU (T2) reported by mothers and adolescents.

Conclusions: Contrary to hypotheses derived from the HAPA, findings demonstrate that not all the HAPA variables are linked to maternal monitoring of adolescents' EMU. More research is thus needed to identify antecedents and consequences of different strategies of maternal monitoring.

Keywords: Electronic media use; Health action process approach; Maternal monitoring; Mother-adolescent dyads; Path models.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior*
Adult
Child
Electronics
Female
Humans
Intention
Male
Mothers*
Parents