The Multiple Mediation Effect of Mother's Smartphone Overdependence and Mother-Child Play Interaction in the Relationship between Parental Efficacy and Children's Smartphone Overdependence

This study verified the multiple mediating effects of mother smartphone overdependence and mother-child play interaction in the relationship between parental efficacy and child smartphone overdependence. To this end, an online survey involving 209 mothers with infants was conducted using parental efficacy, infant smartphone dependence, mother smartphone dependence, and mother-child play interaction scales. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and the SPSS PROCESS Macro 4.2 programs. As a result of the study, first, it was found that parental efficacy was correlated with mothers' and infants' smartphone overdependence and mother-child play interaction. Second, there was a mediating effect of mothers' smartphone overdependence and play interaction in the effect of parental efficacy on child smartphone overdependence. In conclusion, if the mother's parental efficacy is high, the mother's dependence on the mother's smartphone is low, and the play interaction with her children is high, the child's dependence on the mother's smartphone may be low. Therefore, it was confirmed that parental efficacy, the mother's dependence on her smartphone, and play interaction are important factors for preventing dependence on smartphones in early childhood. This study is meaningful in that it provides basic data for preparing practical educational programs for mothers.