Smartphones in the nursery: Parental smartphone use and parental sensitivity and responsiveness within parent–child interaction in early childhood (0–5 years): A scoping review

Abstract

The omnipresence of smartphones has not stopped at the door to the nursery. It is especially important to better understand the impact of parental smartphone use on relationships at the beginning of children's lives. Babies and toddlers are essentially dependent on caregivers' sensitive and responsive behaviors within the context of the development of attachment patterns. Disturbances in parental sensitivity can have a negative impact on attachment-related interactional processes between parents and children and on child outcomes, such as self-regulatory capacity. The goal of this review is to compile existing research on the impact of parental mobile device use through technoference or absorption on parental sensitivity and responsiveness within parent-child interactions in the early years (0-5). We conducted a thorough search of the databases PsycInfo and PubMed, additionally consulting data sources such as Google Scholar and Google. In this review, we included 12 studies with a variety of methodical approaches. The research so far indicates that parental smartphone use may be associated with changes in parental sensitivity and responsiveness. Absorption in the device appears to contribute to this association more strongly than short interruptions of relating per se (technoference). However, to better understand these processes, more in-depth, longitudinal research is needed.

The phubbing phenomenon: The impact on parent-child relationships

“…The umbrella term of technology interference, or "technoference," encompasses the multiple effects of smartphone use on various aspects of human relationships (Braune-Krickau et al, 2021;McDaniel & Coyne, 2016). In particular, phubbing behaviors parallel interruptions of social interactions through technology, also labeled as "absent presence" and "immersion," refer to the users' "absorption" in digital devices (Braune-Krickau et al, 2021;Gergen, 2002).…”

“…The umbrella term of technology interference, or "technoference," encompasses the multiple effects of smartphone use on various aspects of human relationships (Braune-Krickau et al, 2021;McDaniel & Coyne, 2016). In particular, phubbing behaviors parallel interruptions of social interactions through technology, also labeled as "absent presence" and "immersion," refer to the users' "absorption" in digital devices (Braune-Krickau et al, 2021;Gergen, 2002). Phubbing relates to the fragmentation of social relationships caused by the withdrawal of attention from the environment and focusing on the device and its multitude of online diversions and communication options (Braune-Krickau et al, 2021).…”

“…In particular, phubbing behaviors parallel interruptions of social interactions through technology, also labeled as "absent presence" and "immersion," refer to the users' "absorption" in digital devices (Braune-Krickau et al, 2021;Gergen, 2002). Phubbing relates to the fragmentation of social relationships caused by the withdrawal of attention from the environment and focusing on the device and its multitude of online diversions and communication options (Braune-Krickau et al, 2021). Although technoference refers to the overall disruption of communication, phubbing captures the aspects of turning the gaze "away" from the communication partner, facing the device, usually for extended periods (Braune-Krickau et al, 2021).…”

Problematische und pathologische Bindungsphänomene im Zusammenhang mit internetbezogenen Störungen

“…Es kann nur vermutet werden, dass eine exzessive elterliche Nutzung digitaler Medien, insbesondere von mobilen Endgeräten wie Smartphones zu Störungen im Beziehungs-und Bindungsverhalten führen. Eine jüngst erschienene systematische Übersichtsarbeit deutet darauf hin, dass elterliche Smartphone-Nutzung zu einer veränderten Sensibilität und Responsivität gegenüber den Kindern führt [66]. Die ungeteilte Aufmerksamkeit der Eltern, nicht zuletzt auch der unverstellte und unmittelbare Blickkontakt sind eine wichtige Grundlage für die Entwicklung gesunder Bindungsmuster und vermutlich zunehmend verstellt von digitalen Medien.…”

Features of cognitive development in children of early and preschool age using gadgets

“…тельного и отзывчивого поведения родителей либо воспитателей в контексте формирования паттернов привязанности. Нарушения родительской чувствительности могут негативно повлиять на процессы взаимодействия родителей и детей, связанные с привязанностью, и, как следствие, на когнитивное развитие детей [20]. Родители, использующие мобильные устройства, не реагировали на просьбы ребенка почти в половине наблюдаемых случаев; отмечается заметное сокращение времени вербального и невербального общения родителей с детьми, совместных занятий.…”