Maternal COVID-19 Distress and Chinese Preschool Children’s Problematic Media Use: A Moderated Serial Mediation Model

Abstract

Maternal distress increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly impacting children's media use. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence mechanism of maternal COVID-19 distress on preschoolers' problematic media us through a moderated mediation model; specifically, we examined the possible mediating roles of parenting stress and negative instrumental use of media in parenting and the moderating role of supportive co-parenting. Methods: An online survey was conducted in a sample of 1357 children (M age = 4.01, SD = 1.06; 47.4% boys) and their parents from six public kindergartens in Shanghai, China. The mothers provided information by completing measures on their levels of distress related to COVID-19, parenting stress levels, digital parenting practices, and perception of supportive co-parenting from their partners. Additionally, both parents rated their children's problematic media use. Results:(1) maternal COVID-19 distress was significantly and positively related to children's problematic media use; (2) this relationship was sequentially mediated by parenting stress and parents' negative instrumental use of media in parenting; and (3) supportive co-parenting moderated the serial mediation path by reducing the effect of maternal COVID-19 distress on parenting stress. Conclusion:The findings provide some support and guidance for preventing children's problematic media use and enhancing parental adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic or in potentially adverse situations.

Maternal distress, parenting stress, maladaptive parenting and children’s problematic media use in China: evidence from 2022 spring in Shanghai

“…Based on the study conducted by Kazak et al, [ 27 ] and Li et al, [ 28 ], parental distress associated with COVID-19 may be divided into two primary aspects: parents’ subjective overall distress connected to COVID-19 events and parents’ perceived distress of children. Both aspects are connected to the stress encountered by parents during the lockdown: the former general psychological distress caused by various stressors (e.g., financial challenges, concern for family members, and struggle to access food or medical care), as well as specific distress associated with taking increased parenting duties and responsibilities compared to before (e.g., paying attention to children’s physical and mental health, attending to children’s daily needs and managing online learning).…”