Your Facebook obsession may be giving your kids behavioral problems

Experts suggest that parent using social media or texting during playtime could make children feel rejected

We are constantly told to limit a child's screen use to prevent behavioural issues.  But new research warns screen-addicted parents are to blame, reported Daily Mail. Data compiled by a team of pediatrics professors found mothers and fathers who frequently use digital technology are more likely to have children with behavioural issues.

Experts suggest that interruptions from checking Facebook or texting during playtime could make children feel rejected, and contribute to a child's sudden outbursts. The small study from the University of Michigan and Illinois State University found parents who became distracted by devices were more likely to have disruptive kids.



Even a rare break in a conversation to scroll through Instagram could lead to the unwanted behavior, said senior author Jenny Radesky. Radesky, a behavior expert and pediatrician at Michigan added: 'It's also possible that parents of children with behavioral difficulties are more likely to withdraw or de-stress with technology during times with their child.

“It's really difficult to toggle attention between all of the important and attention-grabbing information contained in these devices, with social and emotional information from our children, and process them both effectively at the same time.” The study looked at how many times a parent noted an interruption occurred due to technology.

Then it analysed the child's corresponding behavior for the past two months. Almost half (48%) of parents said their devices interrupted activities three or more times a day. Twenty-four % reported it happened twice, 17% said once and 11% said these types of disruptions never happened.



Parents were also asked if they thought they used their phones too much and mothers were more likely to admit that it could be a problem. On average, parents with children ages eight to 18 consume screen media for more than nine hours each day, according to a 2016 Common Sense Media report.

One-fifth of all Americans reported to being on the internet 'almost constantly', with young adults making up the largest percentage of this category.  Setting down the phone could also have benefits for adults. Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, professor of Human Sciences and Psychology at Ohio State University, found that Facebook was the worst thing for a new mother's mental health.

These new caregivers had elevated depressive and stress symptoms after using the social media site.

Professor Schoppe-Sullivan contributed this to women seeking external validation for their mothering identity online.

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