Article

The Mediating Effect of Mother Phubbing in the Relationship Between Mother Stress and Positive Communication Between Mothers and Infants

Author

Shin Jae-Yeong, Hong Yea-Ji

Information

pp. 129~140 / 2025 Vol.32 No.4

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the effects of mothers’ stress and phubbing on positive communication between mothers and young children, and to verify the mediating effect of phubbing in the relationship between mothers’ stress and positive mother–hild communication. A total of 223 mothers with children aged 3 to 5 years participated in the study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation analysis with SPSS 22.0, and the mediating effect of mothers’ phubbing was tested using Model 4 of the SPSS PROCESS macro. The main findings of the study are as follows. Mothers’ stress showed significant correlations with all subfactors of phubbing and positive mother–child communication. In addition, mothers’ stress influenced positive communication between mothers and young children through phubbing, and the mediating effect of phubbing was partial. These results indicate the need to manage mothers’ stress, to monitor phubbing behaviors, and to develop and implement emotional support and digital media–related parent education programs that reduce the negative effects of phubbing and promote positive communication between mothers and young children.

Keywords