EXAMINING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MATERNAL MOBILE DEVICE USE, MOTHER-TO-INFANT ATTACHMENT AND INFANT NEGATIVE AFFECTIVITY

Abstract

Background: With the exponential growth in the development of technology (i.e., mobile phones, laptops, tablets) use worldwide, researchers have classified "problematic mobile device use" to encompass "addiction" or dependency on the device that distracts one from their surroundings. This distraction can be common during parenting and could negatively impact how parents interact or attach to their children. The main purpose of this study is to examine correlations between problematic mobile device use in mothers, maternal attachment to infants, and infant negativity.Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational design with a convenience sample of mothers with infants (n = 250) from five areas in the north of Jordan. The problematic mobile device use was used to assess if mothers are struggling with the mobile device while spending time with their children. The Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale was used to assess maternal attachment to her infant during the postnatal period. The infant Negativity Scale was used to assess parental beliefs about their infants’ behavior negativity. Results: Problematic mobile device use in mothers may decrease levels of maternal attachment to infants (B= -155.13, P0.05). Thus, infant negativity did not mediate associations between maternal problematic mobile device use and attachment to infants. Conclusion: This study has confirmed negative associations between maternal problematic mobile device use and mother-to-infant attachment, pointing to possible contextual variables related to Jordanian culture. Further research is needed to better trace the temporal dynamics between these variables over time and to explore maternal experience embedded within complicated family practices in this Arab Islamic culture.