Exploring the Relationship between Maternal Parenting Stress and Children’s Internet Addiction in South Korea

The study aims to investigate the association between maternal parenting stress and children’s internet addiction, with achievement pressure perceived by children as a mediator, and explore the moderating role of maternal social support employing Abidin’s Parenting Stress Model. Data from the thirteenth Panel Study on Korean Children were utilized, focusing on the responses of 12-year-old children (N=1,118) for secondary analysis. Using SPSS 26.0 and Process macro 4.2, the indirect path (Model 4) and the moderated mediation hypothesis (Model 7) were tested within a cross-sectional design. We found that maternal parenting stress and achievement pressure perceived by children had a significant positive direct effect on children’s internet addiction. Also, achievement pressure perceived by children partially mediated the relationship between maternal parenting stress and children’s internet addiction. The moderated mediation effect of maternal informational support was significant in the relationship between maternal parenting stress, achievement pressure perceived by children, and children’s internet addiction. When the level of maternal informational support was high, the direct and indirect effect of maternal parenting stress on children’s internet addiction was lowered. To prevent children’s internet addiction, it is crucial to understand maternal parenting stress, achievement pressure perceived by children, and the level of maternal social support. The adverse effect of maternal parenting stress and achievement pressure perceived by children on children’s internet addiction can be mitigated through the provision of maternal social support. In particular, providing informational support for mothers, such as university admission trends and effective parenting styles is crucial for reducing maternal parenting stress.