Predictors of parental mediation in teenagers’ internet use: A cross-sectional study of female caregivers in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Background The internet has become the most widely used medium among teenagers, who spend much of their time online, which raises parental concerns. Notwithstanding teens’ increased internet use and exposure to online risks, little is yet known about parental internet mediation in local settings. The present research aimed to assess the various dimensions of parental mediation to regulate teens’ use of the internet, and their predictors.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the district of Lahore, Pakistan, among mothers/female caregivers of teens (aged 13–19 years). Only women were interviewed because they are more frequently engaged as primary caregivers than fathers or male caregivers. Furthermore, only qualified and working mothers from the top two professions among women, i.e. academia and medicine, were interviewed. A stratified random sampling technique was adopted, and 347 mothers were interviewed using face-to-face interviews at 11 universities and 11 hospitals/medical colleges. Data was entered and analysed using descriptive, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.Results The findings highlighted that more than 65% of respondents applied high active mediation of internet safety, around 60% used high active co-use mediation and more than 56% applied restrictive mediation. In addition, 36% of respondents monitored and 15.3% technically mediated to regulate their teens’ use of the internet. The results of the multivariate logistic regression revealed that the majority of respondents were more inclined to adopt active internet safety mediation if they had teens aged 16–19 years, with medium internet addiction, possessed good digital skills, felt confident about their teens’ coping appraisal to perform online protection, and considered their teens to have high self-esteem and resilience.Conclusions This research found that parental internet mediation is a multi-faceted concept used to regulate teens’ online activity and enhance a resilient approach to reduce the risks associated with use of the internet. The researchers recommend developing parental guidelines, e-safety resource material, local support networks and community programmes to educate parents, teachers and teens in order to raise awareness and promote resilient pathways amongst teens.

Keibubapaan Digital dan Mediasi Ibu Bapa Terhadap Penggunaan Internet Remaja di Malaysia

“…Bagi remaja, telefon pintar, komputer riba dan komputer meja atau komputer peribadi adalah peranti untuk akses kepada internet. Sementara untuk kanak-kanak yang lebih muda biasanya menggunakan komputer tablet atau berkongsi peranti seperti komputer peribadi atau komputer riba (Iqbal, 2021) dengan adik-beradik.…”

The Extent to Which Parents of Adolescents in Jordan Use Harmful Mediation Patterns in the Digital World

“…This often leads to negative results, including depriving children of the opportunity to fully integrate and benefit from sources of information and social communication, or what can be called the new third millennium skills or knowledge age skills, and it increases the risks of losing family trust and transparency (Singh et al, 2017). Iqbal et al (2021) conducted a study entitled "Parental mediation predictors of adolescent Internet use" aimed at evaluating the different dimensions of parental mediation regulating and predicting adolescent Internet use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Lahore district, Pakistan, among adolescent mothers/caregivers (aged 13-19 years).…”

Media Digital Literacy Program in Improving Parental Mediation Efficacy with Community Nursing Approach

“…The positive effect obtained is the awakening of the mother's expectations because she realizes that other people experience the same problem. This group is also a forum for sharing information, not only health information related to parental mediation (20) .…”