Familias hiperconectadas: Mediación parental en la tecnología digital en adolescentes cuencanos

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate parental mediation strategies in the use of digital technology and its relationship with sex and age in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who attend educational units in Cuenca. Methodology: The research approach was quantitative, with a descriptive and correlational scope and cross-sectional. For the sample, the database of the project "Hyperconnected Families: Parental mediation and the role of socio-emotional skills in the use of digital technology in adolescents in Cuenca" was partially used. The participants were 327 parents of adolescents who attend four educational institutions in Cuenca. Results: A predominance of enabling strategies was found, followed by a moderate use of monitoring strategies and low use of restrictive strategies. The influence of sex on the preference for certain strategies, with greater control and restriction on daughters than on sons. A negative correlation was found between adolescents' age and the use of mediation strategies, indicating a lower use of these strategies as age increases. Conclusion: The importance of parental mediation strategies to balance risks and opportunities in the use of digital technologies by adolescents is highlighted, and differentiated patterns were identified according to sex and age. The findings provide a basis for designing more inclusive and effective strategies in educational, preventive, family and social contexts.