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The Association Between Parental Phubbing and Preschoolers' Excessive Electronic Media Use: The Chain Mediating Role

Qiong Zhao1,2, Yanrong Fan1, Kuai Song1,3

  • 1Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.

Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 28, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Parental phubbing, or phone snubbing, is linked to increased electronic media use in preschoolers. Secure parent-child attachment and better self-control can help mitigate this risk.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Digital Media Studies
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Children's early exposure to digital media is rising.
  • Excessive electronic media use poses risks to young children's development.
  • Parental phubbing (phone snubbing) is a growing concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between parental phubbing and excessive electronic media use in preschoolers.
  • To explore the mediating roles of parent-child attachment and self-control in this relationship.
  • To understand the psychological mechanisms involved.

Main Methods:

  • Survey of 758 parents of preschoolers using validated scales.
  • Statistical analysis to examine associations and mediation pathways.
  • Cross-sectional study design.

Main Results:

  • Parental phubbing showed a significant positive association with preschoolers' excessive electronic media use.
  • Parent-child attachment and self-control were significant mediators.
  • Three mediating pathways were identified: attachment alone, self-control alone, and a chain effect of both.

Conclusions:

  • Parental phubbing contributes to excessive electronic media use in young children.
  • Parent-child attachment and self-control are key psychological mechanisms.
  • Findings offer insights for developing prevention and intervention strategies.

Keywords:
excessive electronic media useparental phubbingparent–child attachmentpreschoolerself-control

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