아버지의 양육참여가 유아기 자녀의 스마트기기 과의존에 미치는 영향

The Effects of Fathers’ Parenting Involvement on Preschoolers’ Smart Device Overdependence: The Mediating Role of Maternal Parenting Stress and Positive Parenting Behaviors

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the direct effect of fathers’ parenting involvement and the indirect effect of fathers’ parenting involvement through mothers’ parenting stress and positive parenting behaviors on preschoolers’ smart device overdependence. Methods: Data from 265 mothers who reported that their children ages 3 to 5 used smart devices were analyzed using frequency analysis, Pearson's correlation analysis, path analysis, and the bootstrapping method. Results: First, fathers’ parenting involvement had no significant direct effect on preschoolers’ smart device overdependence. Second, fathers’ parenting involvement significantly indirectly affected preschoolers’ smart device overdependence through mothers’ parenting stress. Third, fathers’ parenting involvement had no significant indirect effect on preschoolers’ smart device overdependence via mothers’ positive parenting behaviors. Fourth, mothers’ parenting stress as well as positive parenting behaviors had no sequential mediating effect. Conclusions: This study suggests that, as fathers’ parenting involvement effectively alleviates maternal parenting stress, fathers’ parenting involvement should be encouraged in order to minimize preschoolers’ overdependence on smart devices.