# The Association Between Parental Phubbing and Preschoolers’ Excessive Electronic Media Use: The Chain Mediating Role of Parent–Child Attachment and Self-Control

## TL;DR

This study explores how parents ignoring children for phones (phubbing) leads to excessive screen time in preschoolers, mediated by attachment and self-control.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a novel chain mediation model linking parental phubbing to children's media use through attachment and self-control.

## Key findings

- Parental phubbing is positively linked to preschoolers' excessive electronic media use.
- Parent–child attachment and self-control mediate the relationship between phubbing and media use.
- Three mediating pathways were identified, including a chain effect of attachment and self-control.

## Abstract

In the current digital age, children are exposed to electronic media at an increasingly early age. The issue of excessive electronic media use has become a significant risk factor affecting the healthy development of young children. To examine the association between parental phubbing and preschoolers’ excessive electronic media use, as well as the underlying mechanism—mediating roles of parent–child attachment and self-control, 758 parents of preschoolers were recruited to complete a set of scales. The results show that: (1) Parental phubbing was positively associated with preschoolers’ excessive electronic media use; (2) Parent–child attachment and self-control significantly mediated this relation, which contains three mediating pathways—the mediating effects of parent–child attachment and self-control, as well as their chain mediating effect. The study revealed the psychological mechanisms between parental phubbing and preschoolers’ excessive electronic media use, providing suggestions for the prevention and intervention of excessive electronic media use among preschoolers.