A Transactional Framework of Parenting for Children’s Internet Use: A Narrative Review of Parental Self-Efficacy, Mediation, and Awareness of Online Risks

Authors

  • Seffetullah Kuldas Faculty of Humanities, Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo
  • Aikaterini Sargioti Anti-Bullying Centre, Institute of Education, Dublin City University
  • James O'Higgins Norman Anti-Bullying Centre, Institute of Education, Dublin City University
  • Elisabeth Staksrud Faculty of Humanities, Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo

Keywords:

Internet use, online safety, online risk, parental awareness, parental self-efficacy, parental mediation

Abstract

Parental concern about children’s media use has been a recurring issue in research on parent-child communication. For the past three decades, online risks associated with children’s Internet use have also become a particular concern. However, recent evidence remains inconclusive about whether parental awareness of online risks is a result or antecedent of parental mediation of children’s Internet use. The aim of this narrative review is threefold: to propose (a) a bi-factor conceptualization of parental mediation—enabling and restrictive mediation as two sides of the same coin; (b) a transactional conceptualization of relationships between parental awareness, mediation, and self-efficacy; and (c) a transactional framework of parenting for children’s Internet use. Further research could test the proposed conceptualization and framework for distinguishing between when parental awareness is the result and antecedent of parental mediation.

Author Biographies

Seffetullah Kuldas, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo

Seffetullah Kuldas is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow, as a holder of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Individual Fellowships (MSCA–IF), at the Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo. He works on the project about Ethnicity-Based Parenting for Children’s Internet Use (funded by Horizon 2020, the European Union Framework Programme for Research and Innovation).

Aikaterini Sargioti, Anti-Bullying Centre, Institute of Education, Dublin City University

Aikaterini Sargioti is a Research Assistant at the Anti-Bullying Centre, Dublin City University. She works on the FUSE – Anti-Bullying and Online Safety Programme, a whole-school approach, research, and evaluation programme, supported by Meta (Facebook). The programme is focused on how students, parents, teachers, and school staff promote online safety among children and adolescents in schools.

James O'Higgins Norman, Anti-Bullying Centre, Institute of Education, Dublin City University

Prof. James O'Higgins Norman holds the prestigious UNESCO Chair on Tackling Bullying in Schools and Cyberspace and is Director of Anti-Bullying Centre (ABC) at Dublin City University. He is also a member of the Government's Advisory Council for Online Safety. James is currently working on studies about bullying, cyberbullying, and parental involvement in children’s online safety.

Elisabeth Staksrud, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo

Elisabeth Staksrud is a professor at the Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo, Norway, and chair of the Norwegian National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (NESH) and the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) Children, Youth and Media Section. Her research interests revolve around children and online risk, regulation and rights, online censorship and governance and research ethics. She is on the management group of the EU Kids Online project and partner in the CO:RE and ySKILLS H2020 funded projects.

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Published

2023-02-13

Issue

Vol. 17 (2023)

Section

Articles

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