The Influence of Parental Phubbing Behavior on Rural Children's Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Social Participation

With the advent of the digital age, the popularity of smart phones and electronic devices has made parental phubing behavior (that is, parents overuse electronic devices when interacting with their children) a new factor affecting the mental health of rural children. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of parental phubbing on rural children's mental health and the mediating role of social participation. Parents' phubbing behavior, social engagement scale and children's Anxiety Disorder Screening Scale (SCARED) were used to measure parents' phubbing behavior, social engagement and children's mental health. The results show that there is a significant negative correlation between parental phubbing behavior and rural children's mental health level, and social participation plays a partial mediating role in this relationship. Parental phubbing not only directly affects children's mental health, but also indirectly affects children's mental health by reducing their social participation. The findings of this study highlight the importance of parental behavior in early child development and provide practical guidance for parents, educators, and policymakers to promote mental health and social engagement among rural children.