ASSESSMENT OF PARENTAL FACTORS AND AWARENESS INFLUENCING SMARTPHONE USAGE AMONG PARENTS OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IN A SELECTED COMMUNITY, CHENGALPATTU DISTRICT

Abstract

Background: The increasing integration of smartphones into family life has raised concerns regarding
excessive screen exposure, inappropriate digital content, inadequate supervision, and unhealthy technology-
use patterns among school-age children. Parents play an important role in shaping children’s smartphone-
related behaviours through awareness, monitoring, supervision, role modelling, and establishment of
appropriate household rules. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess parental awareness regarding
smartphone usage among parents of school-age children, identify parental factors influencing children’s
smartphone usage, determine the association between parental awareness and selected demographic
variables, and examine the correlation between parental factors and parental awareness. Methods: A
quantitative descriptive research design was adopted among 150 parents of children aged 6–15 years
residing in a selected community at Poonjeri, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu. Participants were selected
using non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured self-administered
questionnaire comprising 45 items covering demographic characteristics, parental awareness, and parental
factors influencing children’s smartphone usage. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and Pearson’s
product-moment correlation coefficient were employed for data analysis, with statistical significance set at
p < 0.05. Results: Among the 150 participants, 77.3% were mothers, 66.0% were aged 31–40 years, 57.3%
had no formal education, 55.3% were homemakers, 74.7% belonged to nuclear families, and 56.7% reported
a monthly family income of ₹5,000–₹25,000. Regarding parental awareness, 95.3% demonstrated moderate
awareness, 4.0% had poor awareness, and only 0.7% had good awareness. Regarding parental factors
influencing children’s smartphone usage, 81.3% demonstrated a moderate level, 17.3% had a low level, and
1.3% had a high level. No statistically significant association was identified between parental awareness
and child’s age, parental age, source of information, educational status, occupation, family structure, or
monthly family income (p > 0.05). Pearson’s correlation revealed a very weak positive correlation between
parental factors and parental awareness (r = 0.053). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that parental
awareness and parental factors influencing children’s smartphone usage were predominantly at a moderate
level, with very few parents demonstrating high awareness or highly protective practices. The absence of
significant associations with demographic variables indicates the need for community-wide interventions.
The very weak correlation between awareness and parental factors further suggests that awareness alone
may not be sufficient to promote appropriate digital-parenting practices. Implications: Community-based
digital-literacy programmes should be strengthened through home visits, school health education,
community health centres, and structured parent-awareness sessions. Nursing and community-health
professionals can support parents through counselling and practical strategies related to parental
supervision, screen-time regulation, responsible role modelling, and establishment of technology-free
family periods.