MOTHERS’ PROBLEMATIC SMARTPHONE USE, MOTHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND MATERNAL PERCEPTION OF CHILD BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS
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Date
0023-05-18
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KINNAIRD COLLEGE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Abstract
This research study aimed to examine the mediating role of mother-child relationship
between mothers’ problematic smartphone use and maternal perception of child behavioral
problems. The study utilized a correlational research design and purposive and snowball
sampling strategy with a sample size of 100 mothers (Mage = 33.53; SD = 4.88) from Lahore. The
research employed the Smartphone Addiction Scale- Short Version (Kwon et al., 2013), Child
Parent Relationship Scale- Short Form (Pianta, 1992), and Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) to collect data. The findings revealed that mothers' problematic
smartphone use had a positive relationship with the conflict dimension of the mother-child
relationship but a negative relationship with the closeness dimension. Moreover, the conflict
dimension of the mother-child relationship had a positive relationship with maternal perception
of child behavioral problems, while the closeness dimension had a negative relationship with the
latter. The results also indicated that mothers' problematic smartphone use had a positive
relationship with their perception of behavioral problems in their children. Moreover, conflict
dimension of the mother-child relationship emerged as a significant mediator between mothers’
problematic smartphone use and maternal perceptions of internalizing and externalizing child
behavioral problems. The implications of the study findings suggest the need for mental health
practitioners to consider mothers' problematic smartphone use and conflict in the mother-child
relationship when assessing children with internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems.
The study highlights the importance of being present and responsive to children's needs for their
behavioral adjustment.