Parent Self-Efficacy and Its Relationship with Children’s Screen Viewing: A Scoping Review

Abstract

This scoping review examines the relationship between parent self-efficacy and children’s screen viewing, to provide context, identify gaps and limitations of the current body of literature, and provide recommendations for future research. We identified 111 studies from a search of four academic databases, of which sixteen were within scope and met inclusion criteria. This review found that parents who identified as more self-efficacious in task-specific areas related to screen time had children with less screen viewing time. This finding suggests that parents who identify as more self-efficacious in these areas may implement more mediation strategies, in line with current public health guidelines. Overall, it highlights the importance of consistent policies that support parents in mediating screen access, whilst maximizing the benefits of screen viewing for learning.