The Role of Technological Devices in Parent-Children Interactions: The Correlated Variables of Children's Well-Being and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

This study aims to examine children's well-being and life satisfaction in terms of various variables related to parents' and children's problematic technology usage. Specifically, parent/child responses during their technology use and parents' phubbing and technoference behaviors were considered. The study was conducted with 185 children (8-14) and their parents (mother = 96, father = 89). The data were analyzed by performing correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, t test, and one-way ANOVA. According to the results, there were negative correlations between children's life satisfaction and age, children's technological device (smartphone, computer) usage time, and children/parents responding negatively to each other when engaged in technological devices. Children's well-being was negatively correlated to their age and children/parents responding negatively to each other when engaged in technological devices. A positive correlation was found between children's life satisfaction and well-being as well as parents' phubbing and technoference. According to another result, the well-being of children having their own computer was significantly higher than those who do not have a computer. Finally, children/parents responding negatively to each other when engaged in technological devices negatively predicted the children's life satisfaction and well-being.