Missed connections: Exploring the impact of technoference on wellbeing

Attachment is the framework children utilize to model relationships across the lifespan (Chambers, 2017). Several studies indicate that attachment is critical for the development of self-regulation strategies that determine how a child behaves and reacts within their environment (Orehek et al., 2017). Today, the use of screen time on televisions, cellphones, computers, and tablets is widespread (Pew Research Center, 2021). This study hypothesized that the pervasive use of technology by parents in front of their children significantly impacts how parents and children bond, thus impacting how a child self-regulates and behaves. Participants were children in middle school with the aim to better understand their perception of their parent’s technology use and their ability to self-regulate. This study found that the significant relationship between parental technoference and behavior was significantly moderated by the interaction between self-regulation and attachment security.