Family socioeconomic status and the parent-child relationship: Children’s Internet use as a moderated mediator

Abstract

This study explored the impact of family socioeconomic status on the parent-child relationship, the mediating role of children’s Internet use, and the moderating role of grade. A total of 450 pupils (mean age 9.69 years, SD = 1.23) in grades 3 through 6 completed the Parent-Child Relationship Questionnaire, Children’s Network Questionnaire and Family Affluence Scale. The results showed: (1) family economic status, Internet use and parent-child relationship were significantly inter-correlated; (2) family socioeconomic status positively predicted a more supportive parent-child relationship, and children’s Internet use mediated this connection (mediating effect being 14.4% of total variance; (3) grade played a moderating role in the second half of the mediation model: For the junior grade children, family socioeconomic status predicted parent-child supportive relationships through the mediating role of Internet use, whereas the mediation effect was not significant for the senior grade children.