Parental Digital Neglect and Family Functioning in Children With Developmental Language Disorder: A Case-Control...

Developmental language disorder (DLD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition influenced by both biological and environmental factors. Increasing digital technology use within families has raised concerns regarding its potential effects on parent-child interactions and child developmental outcomes.

To compare parental internet use, digital parenting awareness, family functioning, and parental psychopathology between families of children with DLD and families of typically developing children, and to identify factors independently associated with DLD.

In this cross-sectional case-control study, 40 children aged 24-72 months diagnosed with DLD and 40 age-matched typically developing children, together with their parents, were enrolled. Parents completed the Young Internet Addiction Test, Digital Parenting Awareness Scale, McMaster Family Assessment Device, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of DLD group membership.

Although overall internet addiction scores were similar between groups, parents in the DLD group were more likely to fall within the moderate-to-severe risk category. Mothers of children with DLD demonstrated significantly higher Digital Neglect scores, while family affective responsiveness and general functioning were significantly poorer. After controlling for maternal education, maternal Digital Neglect and impaired family affective responsiveness independently predicted DLD group membership.

Maternal digital neglect and impaired family affective responsiveness were independently associated with DLD. These findings highlight the importance of assessing parental digital behaviors and family emotional functioning when evaluating children with DLD and support the inclusion of family-centered assessment and parent-focused interventions within developmental and child mental health services.