The Impact of Technology Use on Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes: The Moderating Role of Age, Race, and Parental Monitoring
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Jazmin Reyes-Portillo
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 9:45 AM
End Date
26-4-2024 10:44 AM
Description
There are growing concerns about adolescent technology consumption and its potential negative mental health outcomes. Previous studies have shown that increased technology use is associated with increased depression symptoms and substance use behaviors in youth. Parental monitoring may attenuate these negative mental health outcomes. Yet, research suggests that parental monitoring can vary according to adolescent age and family race/ethnicity. This study seeks to clarify how parental monitoring practices may moderate the relationship between adolescent technology use, depression symptoms, and substance use behaviors among adolescents of different ages and ethnoracially minoritized backgrounds. 2206 adolescents (13-18 years) completed an online survey assessing technology use (Adolescents Digital Technology Interactions Scale), parental rules (Technology Rules Scale), and depression symptoms (PHQ-8). Adolescents were also asked to report their age, race, ethnicity, and usage of substances. 74.1% adolescents were aged 15-18 and 49.9% self-identified as biologic/cis female. 47% self-identified as White/Caucasian, 21.5% Black/African American, 6.7% Asian/Pacific Islander, 16.5% Hispanic/Latino, 4% multiracial, 1.7% Native American/Alaskan Native, and 1.2% identified as other races. Poster analyses will include Pearson’s correlations to examine bivariate associations between all technology use, parental rules, and depression and substance use behaviors. Linear regression analyses will also examine if parental rules about adolescent technology use moderate the association between adolescent technology use, depression symptoms, and substance use behaviors and if age and race may be additional moderators. Understanding the potential impact of parental monitoring practices on adolescent technology use across different ages and ethnoracially minoritized backgrounds provides valuable insight into addressing youth mental health needs.
The Impact of Technology Use on Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes: The Moderating Role of Age, Race, and Parental Monitoring
There are growing concerns about adolescent technology consumption and its potential negative mental health outcomes. Previous studies have shown that increased technology use is associated with increased depression symptoms and substance use behaviors in youth. Parental monitoring may attenuate these negative mental health outcomes. Yet, research suggests that parental monitoring can vary according to adolescent age and family race/ethnicity. This study seeks to clarify how parental monitoring practices may moderate the relationship between adolescent technology use, depression symptoms, and substance use behaviors among adolescents of different ages and ethnoracially minoritized backgrounds. 2206 adolescents (13-18 years) completed an online survey assessing technology use (Adolescents Digital Technology Interactions Scale), parental rules (Technology Rules Scale), and depression symptoms (PHQ-8). Adolescents were also asked to report their age, race, ethnicity, and usage of substances. 74.1% adolescents were aged 15-18 and 49.9% self-identified as biologic/cis female. 47% self-identified as White/Caucasian, 21.5% Black/African American, 6.7% Asian/Pacific Islander, 16.5% Hispanic/Latino, 4% multiracial, 1.7% Native American/Alaskan Native, and 1.2% identified as other races. Poster analyses will include Pearson’s correlations to examine bivariate associations between all technology use, parental rules, and depression and substance use behaviors. Linear regression analyses will also examine if parental rules about adolescent technology use moderate the association between adolescent technology use, depression symptoms, and substance use behaviors and if age and race may be additional moderators. Understanding the potential impact of parental monitoring practices on adolescent technology use across different ages and ethnoracially minoritized backgrounds provides valuable insight into addressing youth mental health needs.