Parent and child problematic media use: The role of maternal postpartum depression and dysfunctional parent-child interactions in young children

Problematic media use, or media use that interferes with daily functioning, is most often studied in adolescent or young adult age groups. Less research has examined problematic media use within the family system, among parents and young children. The current three-year longitudinal study examines associations between symptoms of maternal postpartum depression at Time 1 and parent and child problematic media use and parental depression at Time 3, with parent-child dysfunctional interactions at Time 2 as a potential mediating variable. At Time 1, 491 mothers of children less than one year old responded to survey questions involving maternal postpartum depression and parent-child dysfunctional interaction. One year later, mothers reported on parentchild dysfunctional interaction, and two years later reported on parent and child problematic media use and parental depressive symptoms. Results suggest that symptoms of postpartum depression at Time 1 is associated with parent-child dysfunctional interaction at Time 2, and parent and child problematic media use and depression at Time 3. Parent-child dysfunctional interaction at Time 2 mediated associations between postpartum depression at Time 1 and parent depression at Time 3. Parent-child dysfunctional interaction did not mediate associations between postpartum depression at Time 1 and parent or child problematic media use at Time 3. Discussion focuses on the implications of problematic media use in the family setting.