“I can multitask”: The mediating role of media consumption on executive function's relationship to technoference attitudes

Abstract

Smartphones are ubiquitous in American lives and can interfere with parent-child relationships. This technoference, or the interruption of interpersonal time by technology, has been associated with negative parent-child interactions and can indirectly threaten child safety. Nonetheless, little is known concerning possible precursors or factors that may exacerbate parental technoference. The current study explored new parents' media usage and technoference beliefs as they relate to executive function, or ones’ ability to engage in higher cognitive processes such as attention, impulse control, and task coordination. Responses indicated that both fathers and mothers were more supportive of technoference attitudes in association with digital media use (i.e., text messaging and social media). Regarding executive function, parental difficulties in executive functions were associated with an increased amount of digital media use, though media use was not a mediating factor between executive functions and technoference attitudes and beliefs. These findings emphasize the importance of boosting executive function skills and assessing parental media consumption.