Sequential-Parallel Mediating Roles of Maternal and Infant Interaction Behaviors in the Association Between Maternal Parenting Stress, Smartphone Overdependence, and Infant Problem Behaviors

Objective: This study examined the structural pathways linking maternal parenting stress, smartphone overdependence, and infant problem behaviors, focusing on the sequential-parallel mediating effects of maternal and infant interaction behaviors to provide empirical insights into early behavioral development.Methods: Data from 243 mothers of infants who participated in the second-year (2023) survey of the Panel Study on Korean Children were analyzed. Standardized instruments assessed parenting stress, smartphone overdependence, mother-infant interaction, and infant problem behaviors. The statistical significance of the mediating pathways was evaluated using SPSS version 26.0 and the PROCESS macro with bootstrapping.Results: Higher maternal parenting stress was significantly associated with greater smartphone overdependence. Greater maternal smartphone overdependence predicted poorer maternal and infant interaction behaviors as well as increased infant problem behaviors. Conversely, more positive infant interaction behavior was associated with fewer infant problem behaviors. Furthermore, mediation analysis demonstrated that parenting stress indirectly affected infant problem behaviors through smartphone overdependence. Notably, a significant sequential indirect pathway linked maternal smartphone overdependence to infant problem behaviors through maternal interaction behavior, followed by infant interaction behaviors. Conclusion: This study identified the distinct indirect pathways linking maternal parenting stress, smartphone overdependence, and infant problem behaviors. The findings suggest that maternal smartphone overdependence contributes to infant problem behaviors both directly and indirectly through sequential disruptions of maternal and infant interaction behaviors, underscoring the need to mitigate parental stress and promote healthy smartphone use to support healthy infant development.