Infancy - 2021 - Linder - The impact of parent and child media use on early parent infant attachment

Abstract

• With the advent of affordable digital media and mobile devices, children under 2 years old spend significantly more time with media than recommended (usually 40 min to 3 hours daily).

• Concerns exist regarding the negative impact of media use on parent-child attachment, but research in this area is limited.

• The study involved a diverse sample of 248 parents, examining media use of children (ages 11–26 months) and its effect on attachment, considering factors such as temperament, income, and parental involvement.

• Findings indicated that while time spent on media and co-viewing did not predict attachment insecurity, parental media absorption significantly did. Active mediation was a protective factor, while high parental absorption indicated a risk for attachment insecurity.

Introduction

• The past decade has seen a dramatic increase in media use and device ownership among children under two.

• The amount of media exposure often exceeds guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

• Research has focused on media’s effects on cognitive, attention, motor, and social-emotional development; however, the link between media use and attachment in infancy remains understudied.

• Attachment is the emotional bond that develops between caregiver and infant, serving as a base for exploration and learning. It is influenced by caregiver responses to the infant's distress.

• Interaction quality, such as joint attention, enhances parental sensitivity to the child's cues, fostering secure attachment.

• Disruption in these interactions can lead to insecure or disorganized attachments, impacting lifelong socio-emotional development.

The Role of Media in Parent-Child Attachment

• Increased media use during daily activities may interfere with parent-child interaction, raising concerns about attachment.

• Parental absorption in devices correlates with a decrease in responsive behaviors toward children, indicating a lesser ability to recognize and respond to child's cues.

• The study also investigates how different media engagement styles (active mediation vs. co-viewing) affect attachment patterns.

Research Methodology

• Participants: 250 primary caregiver-infant dyads from the Denver area, assessed in 2017 with follow-up in 2018 for retention (98.9%).

• The diverse sample includes variations in socio-economic status (SES), marital status, and parental education levels, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of attachment variables.

• Measures included online surveys and in-home assessments addressing various aspects of media use and attachment security.

  • Attachment Q-Sort: Assessed parental perceptions of attachment security.

  • Media Use Assessments: Measured both child and parent media use and absorption patterns.

  • Additional data on family income, parental age, and child temperament were collected for control.

Hypotheses

1. Higher parental media use correlates with lower attachment security.

2. Greater parental media absorption negatively impacts attachment security.

3. Higher child media use results in lower attachment security.

4. Active mediation by parents positively affects attachment security; co-viewing does not.

Results

Descriptive Statistics and Correlations

• Significant relationships identified between attachment security and factors like parental age, income, and child negative affect.

• Child media use (TV and mobile) did not predict attachment when controlled for engagement style and parental absorption.

Key Findings:

• While the quantity of media use did not significantly predict attachment insecurity, parental media absorption did.

• The way media is integrated into parent-child interactions influences attachment more than the amount of time spent with media.

• Active mediation proves beneficial, particularly in countering negative effects associated with high child media use; however, co-viewing did not enhance attachment securety.

Discussion

• Findings underscore the importance of parental engagement manner rather than sheer media exposure amount.

• Media usage patterns impact parent-child interactions crucial for attachment development; therefore, quality matters more than quantity.

• Exploring active mediation arrangements can promote attachment through media use instead of diminishing it.

• Media's role should focus on facilitating engagement and connection between parents and children, potentially shaping healthier attachment styles.

Conclusion

• The study emphasizes the need for ongoing research into healthy media practices, aiming to guide parents in fostering secure attachments in the digital age.

• Recommendations for practitioners highlight understanding media's dual potential for connection and disconnection.

• The findings advocate for careful integration of media into family life to support child development positively.

The main purpose of the study detailed in the notes is to explore the impact of media use on parent-child attachment among children under two years old. It aims to examine how different aspects of media usage, such as the amount of time spent on media and the way parents engage with media (active mediation versus co-viewing), affect the security of the attachment bond between parents and their infants.

Research Methodology

Participants: 250 primary caregiver-infant dyads from the Denver area, assessed in 2017 with follow-up in 2018 for retention (98.9%).The diverse sample includes variations in socio-economic status (SES), marital status, and parental education levels, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of attachment variables.Measures included online surveys and in-home assessments addressing various aspects of media use and attachment security.

• Attachment Q-Sort: Assessed parental perceptions of attachment security.

• Media Use Assessments: Measured both child and parent media use and absorption patterns.Additional data on family income, parental age, and child temperament were collected for control.

Key Findings:

• While the quantity of media use did not significantly predict attachment insecurity, parental media absorption did.

• The way media is integrated into parent-child interactions influences attachment more than the amount of time spent with media.

• Active mediation proves beneficial, particularly in countering negative effects associated with high child media use; however, co-viewing did not enhance attachment security.

Strengths:

• Diverse Sample: The study involved 250 primary caregiver-infant dyads from various socio-economic backgrounds, providing a comprehensive perspective on attachment variables.

• Follow-Up Assessment: Retention of participants for follow-up assessments (98.9%) strengthens the validity of the findings.

• Multiple Measures: Utilization of online surveys and in-home assessments allows for a well-rounded analysis of media use and attachment security.

Limitations:

• Limited Generalizability: Findings may not be applicable to populations outside of the Denver area or those not represented in the sample.

• Correlational Nature: The study design primarily assesses correlations rather than causation, making it difficult to determine the direct impact of media use on attachment.

• Subjective Measures: Reliance on parental reports and perceptions may introduce bias, potentially affecting the accuracy of attachment assessments.