Children’s motivation for digital technology use: parents and children’s perspective

Varga, Vanesa; Topić, Marina Kotrla

doi:10.19090/pp.v15i3.2378

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Adolescents' desire for technology, including smartphones, can be attributed to a combination of factors. They are at a stage in life where social relationships are crucial, and smartphones provide a constant means of staying in touch with friends and peers (Varga and Kotrla Topić, 2022). Secondly, if their friends and peers have smartphones, there may be a desire to fit in and be part of the social group.…”

Section: What Do Kids Want?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer-Influenced Purchases: An Exploration of Consumer Trends Among Adolescents in Croatia

Varga,

Merkaš,

Bodrožić Selak

et al. 2024

Odgoj.-obraz. teme (Online)

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This research aimed at addressing questions about what consumer goods are trending among adolescents in Croatia and why they want to have the consumer goods their peers have. The research was conducted using the method of online focus groups with children. The sample consisted of 40 adolescents (20 boys, 20 girls; average age = 14). The analysis of statements suggests that the current trend are brand clothing items, followed by smartphones and other technology items. The research shows that the reasons for children wanting to buy material goods they see in their peers are: they can play and socialise; they can bond, connect, and feel a sense of unity; they can fit in, and/or because everybody has it; they are not excluded; and finally, to acquire social status. The findings of the work indicate that adolescents want material things that are like those of their peers because of the need for connection, belonging, and relationships, but educators and parents should provide different possibilities to satisfy those needs.

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Section: What Do Kids Want?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer-Influenced Purchases: An Exploration of Consumer Trends Among Adolescents in Croatia

Varga,

Merkaš,

Bodrožić Selak

et al. 2024

Odgoj.-obraz. teme (Online)

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“…Although correlations do not prove a causal relationship, when DT preoccupation, and not addiction, is considered, it is more plausible to presume that those who like spending time using DT and find it interesting will use it more, and not the other way round. Studies show that one of the most often mentioned motives for children's use of DT are fun and entertainment, interaction and communication, relaxation and rest, and learning and seeking information; (Varga & Kotrla Topi c, 2022) therefore, it is less plausible that children would use DT for longer time and then start enjoying it. Although we would expect a positive association between DT preoccupation and DT addiction, we argue that DT preoccupation in its moderate intensity is a natural part of children's development in contemporary society.…”

Section: Correlations and Predicting Life Satisfaction By Using Digit...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital technology use and preoccupation with digital technology as predictors of life satisfaction in children

Topić¹,

Brkljačić²,

Brajša‐Žganec³

2023

Child & Family Social Work

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ObjectiveThis research aims to investigate metric characteristics of the digital technology preoccupation scale and the possibility of predicting life satisfaction in children from 8 to 13 years, based on time spent using digital technology and preoccupation with digital technology.MethodParticipants are 1072 children aged 8 to 13 years and their parents who agreed to participate in the study. Using pen and paper questionnaires, children provided data on their life satisfaction and preoccupation with digital technology (DT), and their parents assessed the average time children used DT during a typical day in a week or during the weekend.ResultsDigital technology preoccupation scale showed good metric characteristics with all five items loading on one factor and good reliability. Boys and older children show more preoccupation with digital technology and lower life satisfaction. Also, boys use DT during the weekend longer than girls. After controlling for the effect of age and gender, and duration of DT use, preoccupation with digital technology explained 3% of the variance of life satisfaction. The total model explained 9% of variance.ConclusionFindings from this study show that preoccupation with digital technology is an important factor to be considered concerning children's life satisfaction, beyond the contribution of time spent using DT.

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“…Smartphones are preferred mobile digital devices among adolescents around the world, and they are used for different purposes, e.g., to communicate, have fun, or rest [1]. In the U.S. and Western Europe, the prevalence of smartphone use among adolescents is similar [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Problematic Smartphone Use and Communication in Families with Adolescents

Merkaš,

Bodrožić Selak,

Žulec Ivanković

2024

Adolescents

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Research examining the relations among adolescent’s problematic smartphone use, parent–adolescent conflicts about smartphone use, family communication, and adolescent communication skills is scarce. Thus, the study empirically examined a model of the direct and indirect effects of adolescents’ problematic smartphone use on adolescent communication skills via family communication and parent–adolescent conflicts about smartphone use. The data used for the creation of this paper came from a sample of 284 adolescents (59.4% girls), aged 10 to 15, who participated in a four-wave longitudinal study (2021–2023) examining the effects of smartphone use on well-being and development. Adolescents rated their problematic smartphone use (wave 1), conflicts with parents about their smartphone use (wave 2), family communication (wave 3), and communication skills (wave 4). There was no support for the direct effect of problematic smartphone use on communication skills. Our path analysis showed a significant indirect effect of problematic smartphone use on communication skills via family communication. Our analysis also showed a significant direct effect of problematic smartphone use on conflicts between parents and adolescents about the time spent using smartphones and balancing activities with smartphone use. The findings of this study imply that excessive and extensive smartphone use may pose a risk factor for frequent parent–adolescent conflicts, poor family communication, and poor adolescent communication skills.

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Children’s motivation for digital technology use: parents and children’s perspective

Cited by 3 publications

References 24 publications

Peer-Influenced Purchases: An Exploration of Consumer Trends Among Adolescents in Croatia

Peer-Influenced Purchases: An Exploration of Consumer Trends Among Adolescents in Croatia

Digital technology use and preoccupation with digital technology as predictors of life satisfaction in children

Problematic Smartphone Use and Communication in Families with Adolescents

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