Parental supervision, children’s self-control and smartphone dependence in rural children: a qualitative comparative analysis from China

Children's self-control and parental supervision were critical factors influencing the participants' smartphone dependence. The children's sex, age, academic performance, parents' smartphone use duration, and primary caregivers' parenting skills moderated these influencing paths. Interventions should focus on enhancing children's self-control through skill-building and equipping parents and primary caregivers with effective supervision, communication, and boundary-setting strategies to foster healthier technological habits.