Parents’ distraction on their cell phones or computers while they are around their children has already gained a name: technoference, a term that translates the interference of technology in family life. And more and more studies suggest that it affects children’s behavior.
One of them, published in August on Jama Network Openshows an association with cases of anxiety and hyperactivity.
The authors reached this conclusion after evaluating the perception of children and pre-teens about the use of technological devices by their parents. Over a period of three years (2020 to 2022), they administered questionnaires to 1,303 volunteers at three times: when they were 9, 10 and 11 years old.
The assessment contained statements such as “I wish my parents spent less time on their cell phones” or “I get frustrated when my parents are on their cell phones instead of spending time together.” Participants also responded about symptoms of anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and lack of attention. The results showed high levels of these disorders in the 9 and 10 year olds, associated with high “technoference” scores.
For the authors, when the physical and emotional needs of young people are consistently ignored or responded to inappropriately, there is a greater risk of them developing behavioral problems. In fact, previous studies suggest that this interference is associated with less engagement between parents and children, less ability to recognize children’s needs, less time spent interacting, and more negative responses to children’s behavior.
“This is a current phenomenon and certainly has an impact on human relationships, probably interfering with education”, says pediatrician Claudio Schvartsman, from Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. However, the expert emphasizes that the fact that data collection was carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, could generate a bias in the results.
In this sense, the authors recognize that children’s subjective perceptions can also limit conclusions – for example, young people with anxiety symptoms may perceive their parents as more distant. Still, it’s important to discuss the use of technology with parents and children as part of routine care.
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This content was originally published in “Technoference”: how does parental distraction on cell phones impact their children? on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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