When does parental monitoring become protective? : The moderating role of parent-child communication in children’s smartphone dependency

This study examined whether the effect of parental monitoring on smartphone dependency among upper-elementary school children varies depending on the presence of parent–child communication. Using data from the third wave of the third panel of 'Regional centers for children' Panel Survey (2020), the analytic sample consisted of 567 sixth-grade children who reported using smartphones. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted, with children’s smartphone dependency specified as the dependent variable, parental monitoring as the independent variable, and parent–child communication as a moderating variable. Children’s perceived stress and demographic characteristics were entered as control variables, given their potential influence on smartphone dependency. The results showed that parental monitoring was significantly negatively associated with children’s smartphone dependency, and a moderating effect of parent–child communication was identified. Specifically, higher levels of parental monitoring were associated with a more pronounced reduction in smartphone dependency when parent–child communication was present. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of parental monitoring in preventing children’s smartphone dependency may vary conditionally on the relational context in which such monitoring is embedded, highlighting the importance of relational guidance grounded in parent-child communication.