Parents' Screen Habits May Shape Child Development Outcomes
New analysis links parental tech use to small but measurable effects on early childhood cognition and behavior
Topline
A 2025 meta-analysis found that parental use of smartphones and other devices during interactions with children under age 5 was associated with slight but statistically significant declines in cognitive development, emotional regulation, behavior, and attachment.
Study Details
The study, led by Marcelo Toledo-Vargas and colleagues at the University of Wollongong, examined 21 peer-reviewed studies encompassing nearly 15,000 children across 10 countries. The analysis explored how parental engagement with technology termed “technoference” correlates with early developmental outcomes.
This study expands on previous reviews by synthesizing results from both psychosocial and cognitive domains, specifically in children under age 5.
Methodology
The systematic review and meta-analysis included observational studies published through July 2024. All selected studies assessed how parental technology use in a child's presence was associated with child-level outcomes. The authors statistically pooled correlations to determine the strength and consistency of these associations across domains.
Moderators such as the type of tech use (distraction vs interruption) were also assessed
Key Findings
Despite the small effect sizes, consistent associations were identified between parental device use and multiple child outcomes:
Cognition: Slight negative impact (r = -0.14)
Internalizing behaviors: Slight increase in anxiety or sadness (r = 0.13)
Externalizing behaviors: Slight increase in tantrums or aggression (r = 0.15)
Prosocial behavior: Slight decrease in social engagement (r = -0.08)
Attachment: Slight decline in parent-child bonding (r = -0.10)
Screen time: Notably higher among children (r = 0.23)
There was no significant difference between types of tech use (distraction vs interruption), suggesting that any use during parent-child interaction may have similar developmental impacts.
Implications for Practice
For parents, this research is a reminder that even small, repeated interruptions in early interactions may compound over time. Pediatricians and child development specialists should be aware of these findings when counseling families.
While smartphones offer convenience, setting aside tech-free time during play, meals, and bedtime may support healthier emotional and cognitive development.
For healthcare providers, these findings reinforce the importance of discussing family media use not just children's screen time, but also parental behavior during well-child visits.