(Australian Associated Press)
Parents plagued with guilt over the hours they spend on smartphones can rest easy, scientists say.
Adults glued to their smartphones have been accused of poor parenting, but research has found little evidence of a direct link between the two.
The recent study analysed 3659 survey responses by parents, finding smartphone use was associated with warm and attached parenting – as long as the technology was not heavily impacting on family time.
“Parental smartphone use has been demonised as a risk to families … but across diverse family environments, smartphones play multiple roles in family life, including the provision of social support and information and allowing for work and digital errands,” Griffith University researcher Dr Kathryn Modecki said.
She said the research would hopefully encourage conversations about families’ diverse experiences with technology, actual risks associated with parenting and how parents can be supported.