Parents’ Perceptions of Smartphone Use and Parenting Practices

Authors

David J. Johnson, Texas Tech UniversityFollow
Katherine M. Hertlein Ph.D., University of Nevada Las Vegas, Department of Marriage and Family TherapyFollow

Abstract

Technology use in one’s life has generally explored why people use certain technologies, how they use technology, and the effect of such usage on our personal relationships. To date, however, few studies have explored the use of using smartphones and its effect on parenting practices. The present study sought to understand parents’ perceptions of their smartphone use’s effect on their children and parenting practices. Grounded in a social constructionism perspective, interviews were conducted with 12 parents inquiring about their smartphone usage. Five themes emerged: (1) Disengagement, (2) Concern for Future, (3) Change in Social Norms, (4) Boundaries, and (5) Cognitive Dissonance. These findings indicate some remarkable effects parental smartphone use is having in the lives of study participants. Results and implications are discussed.

Keywords

Parents, Smartphone, Technology, Internet, Phenomenology

Author Bio(s)

David J. Johnson, M.S., is a doctoral student in the Couple, Marriage, and Family Therapy Program at Texas Tech University. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: david.j.johnson@ttu.edu.

Katherine M. Hertlein, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Couple and Family Therapy program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: katherine.hertlein@unlv.edu.

Publication Date

6-23-2019

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3932

Recommended APA Citation

Johnson, D. J., & Hertlein, K. M. (2019). Parents’ Perceptions of Smartphone Use and Parenting Practices. The Qualitative Report, 24(6), 1423-1441. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3932