The Effect of Maternal Smartphone Distraction on Mother-Child Learning-Based Interaction

Authors

  • Michal Alon-Tirosh The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College
  • Dorit Hadar Shoval The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College
  • Kfir Asraf The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College
  • Manor Fraizond The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College

Keywords:

smartphone distraction, scaffolding, task performance, mother and child input, problem-solving task, experimental study

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of maternal smartphone distraction on mother-child, learning-based interaction. Relying on maternal scaffolding studies and the importance of maternal tutoring, this study determined whether and how a mother being distracted by a smartphone affects three aspects of learning-based interactions: task performance, the child’s reactions, and the mother’s reactions. The study focuses on five measures: task completion time, number of errors, child input, maternal input, and number of parts assembled by the mother. Seventy-two mothers and their 3- to 6-year-old children (33 girls) participated in this mixed-methods study using both within-subject and between-subject designs. Interrupted and uninterrupted joint mother-child interactions were compared. The findings revealed that maternal smartphone distractions increased task completion time, child’s input, and mother’s assembly, but decreased mother’s input. As mother-child interaction is important for child development, these findings raise developmental concerns caused by maternal smartphone distraction during child tutoring.

Author Biographies

Michal Alon-Tirosh, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College

Michal Alon-Tirosh (Ph.D.) is a lecturer at the Behavioral Sciences Department, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Israel, michalt@yvc.ac.il .phone number: +972546665227

Dorit Hadar Shoval, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College

Dorit Hadar Shoval (Ph.D.) is a senior lecturer at the Psychology Department, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Israel, dorith@yvc.ac.il .

Kfir Asraf, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College

Mr. Kfir Asraf is a lecturer at the Psychology Department, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Israel, kfira@yvc.ac.il .

Manor Fraizond, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College

Mr. Manor Fraizond is a student at the Behavioral Sciences Department, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Israel. manorr1208@gmail.com

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Published

2024-09-14

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Section

Articles