Increased parental stress has been linked to greater use of social media and games available on our phones.
- Stress is a normal physiological reaction that occurs when there is pressure or aggression from our environment.
- Ultimately, chronic stress promotes the appearance of many illnesses and worsens their progression: hypertension, heart attacks, depression, etc.
- Parents who are on their phones a lot are more stressed than average, according to a new survey.
Although it seems more like relaxing, parental phone use has been linked in a new search disruption of family time and increased stress.
This study involved 183 heterosexual couples with children under five years old, a total of 355 parents (179 mothers and 176 fathers). The average age of parents was around 32 years old and their children were on average 3 years old.
Mothers and fathers included in the study first completed a survey on their cell phone use (texting, calling, social media and gaming). They were also asked how they perceived the impact of this habit on their family life and their stress level.
Potential parental anxiety was then assessed more precisely using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF).
Telephone and parental stress: mothers are more on social networks
After analysis, the researchers found that mothers were more likely to be on social networks than fathers: 61% of female members of the cohort reported using them for more than 31 minutes per day compared to 38% of fathers. Conversely, fathers reported significant consumption of games accessible via their phone, with 23% of them playing them for more than 31 minutes per day compared to 16% of the women surveyed.
Furthermore, parental stress was associated with greater use of social networks and mobile games, as well as a greater perception of technoference*. These associations were stronger for mobile gaming than for social media use.
The research, titled “Parent social media use and gaming on mobile phones, technoference in family time, and parenting stress”, was written by Brandon T. McDaniel, Alison K. Ventura and Michelle Drouin.
Parental stress: what can be the symptoms?
Stress is a normal physiological reaction that occurs when there is pressure or aggression from our environment. “Each of us is exposed to stress, but we don’t all react in the same way,” explains it French Federation of Cardiology.
Ultimately, chronic stress promotes the appearance of many illnesses and worsens their progression: hypertension, heart attacks, depression, etc.
The physical symptoms of stress mainly consist of muscle tension, digestive and intestinal problems, sleep disorders, lack of appetite, migraines, dizziness or fatigue.
*Technoference is characterized by interruptions in contact and gaze between individuals due to the interest in technological tools (here telephones).
