How Perceived Parental Technoference Relates to Adolescent Smartphone Addiction: Evidence from a Moderated Mediation Model

Previous research has demonstrated a link between perceived parental technoference-defined as parents' technology-related interruptions during interactions-and adolescents' smartphone addiction. However, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship remain insufficiently understood. The present study investigates the association between perceived parental technoference and smartphone addiction among Chinese adolescents, with a particular focus on the mediating effects of attentional shifting and parent-child conflict, as well as the moderating role of mindfulness. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey administered to 1084 adolescents in Hebei Province, China. The findings revealed that perceived parental technoference was negatively associated with adolescents' smartphone addiction, and this relationship was mediated by attentional shifting and parent-child conflict. In addition, mindfulness moderated the relationship between perceived parental technoference and parent-child conflict. These findings help us to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanism in associations between perceived parental technoference and smartphone addiction. They also offer useful implications for social workers and practitioners to develop interventions that effectively reduce smartphone addiction among adolescents.