Exploring the Beliefs of Latine Mothers and Fathers from Diverse Backgrounds About the Role of Mobile Devices in Their Parenting Experiences

Abstract

This study examined how a socioeconomically and linguistically diverse sample of Latine mothers (n = 20) and fathers (n = 20) of children under age five perceive the role of mobile screen technologies in their parenting experiences, using semi-structured interviews. The results show seven key themes that capture how parents believed these devices had both supported and hindered their parenting. These themes were organized into three overarching functions that reflect how mobile screen technologies were viewed and used by Latine mothers and fathers from socioeconomically and linguistically diverse backgrounds: (1) enabling access to parenting resources (i.e., access to information and social support), (2) shaping parent–child interactions (i.e., facilitating teaching, promoting bonding, and disrupting interactions), and (3) influencing emotional regulation and wellbeing (i.e., aiding or complicating behavior management and contributing to parental stress and relief). While these functions were largely consistent across participants, notable differences emerged by gender, language, and income—most prominently in relation to the parents’ levels of formal schooling.