Parents' Digital Device Use Harms Children's Emotional Development, Study Finds

Kathmandu. Excessive use of mobile or other digital devices by children has been a cause for concern. But a new study has shown that the problem is not just with children, but parents' screen use can also be harmful to their mental and emotional development. 

According to a recently published study, children who feel their parents are always busy with mobile or other digital devices are more likely to develop insecure emotional bonds. Researchers say this can have long-term effects on their self-confidence, social relationships, and emotional health.

This study has been published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Psychology. In the research, about 600 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years in America were surveyed. Many adolescents participating in the study said that even when spending time with their parents, they would be busy on their mobiles, making them feel ignored or not prioritized.

According to Don Grant, a psychologist and fellow at the American Psychological Association, such a situation can lead to the development of insecure emotional bonds in children. The effects of this can lead to weakened self-confidence in the future, difficulty forming intimate relationships, and hesitation in taking necessary risks for personal or professional success.

The research has also linked the concept of “technoference”. This means that mobile or other digital devices create interference in relationships during face-to-face conversations or family time. While such effects were studied more in adult relationships before, this time the impact on children and adolescents has been analyzed in detail.

The study also showed a big difference in the perspectives of parents and children. According to 2024 Pew Research Center data, about half of American adolescents say their parents are distracted by mobile phones during conversations. However, most parents do not admit that such a habit is a regular problem.