Parents stress linked to giving children smartphones

Many parents give smartphones to their children and a major reason behind this behaviour has now been identified. Parents who experience stress tend to give their children devices to keep them occupied or calm while also being less likely to enforce limits on screen time.

A study conducted by the Center for Children and Families at Florida International University included 822 parents raising children between the ages of 4 and 8. The participants provided information through online surveys about their children’s behavior, parental stress and screen-time habits.

The findings showed that parents tend to allow their children to use smartphones for longer periods when their children’s behaviour becomes difficult to manage.

Researchers said parents should not hesitate to seek support for managing their own stress. They also advised parents to set limits on children’s screen time and provide them with purposeful, age-appropriate content.

They emphasized that parents should establish appropriate boundaries and spend quality time with their children to promote a healthy environment. A considerable amount of research has been conducted on children’s excessive smartphone use.

A study published in January 2026 explored links between online content and problems related to children’s development.

Similarly, research published in BMC Public Health in October 2024 found that spending excessive time in front of screens can have negative effects on mental health. The risk of depression, anxiety, irritability and other problems was particularly higher among children aged 9 and 10.

The research found that the more time children spent in front of screens, the more severe their symptoms of depression tended to be. According to the study, activities such as video chatting, watching videos and playing video games were associated with a greater increase in this risk.