PRESCHOOL CHILD’S MOTHER’S PARENTING PRACTICES AND ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT WITH CHILD’S DIGITALLY-BASED ACTIVITY IN RELATION TO CHILD’S PROSOCIAL OR PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIOR

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine preschool children’s prosocial behavior as well as internalizing and externalizing problems in relation to their mothers’ parenting practices and active involvement with their child in the use of various digital technologies (television, computer, telephone, play stations), time spent and content of the child’s activities. Participating in the research were the mothers of 120 preschool children, aged 5 – 6 years old, 50 girls and 70 boys. Mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach Rescorla, 2000), prosocial behavior scale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997), Block‘s Child Rearing Practices Report (Block, 1981), as adapted by Aunolo and Nurmi (Aunola Nurmi, 2004) and also answered questions regarding the child’s time spent with digital technologies, the content of their activity (drawing, puzzles, games, etc.), and the mother’s degree of active involvement with her child during these activities. Results showed that mother’s active involvement with child’s digitally-based activity was associated with emotionally warm parenting, as well as with higher child’s prosocial behavior ratings. Regression analysis showed that lover mother’s involvement and punishment orientation in parenting was predictive of externalizing behavior ratings for boys. Results are discussed in relation to practical implications for parent-child relationships.