A scoping review of parental stress related to children’s screen time

In recent times, managing children’s screen time presents a substantial challenge for parents, impacting their well-being. However, there is a notable gap in understanding the specific challenges parents encounter. This scoping review explores the literature on parental stress associated with children’s screen time across childhood and adolescence. Using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we analyzed studies from PubMed and Google Scholar from 2020 to March 2023. Twenty-four papers were selected, revealing increased parental stress due to increasing screen time among children. The findings of the scoping review were organized into four themes to better understand the existing knowledge in this area: (1) parental triggers, (2) parental fears and concerns, (3) parental behavioral approaches, and (4) essential skills for guiding children’s screen time. The findings highlight the scarcity of literature addressing these issues and the lack of a specific measurement scale to assess this type of stress. This review advocates for urgent research and the development of evidence-based interventions to support parents.