ABSTRACT
This study investigates the nuanced dynamics between parental smartphone dependency and its influence on child smartphone engagement and problematic use in South Korea, against the backdrop of the increasing prevalence of digital devices in family life. Drawing on the 2022 Korean Survey on Smartphone Overdependence by the National Information Society Agency, which sampled 1540 respondents, this research aims to uncover how parental behaviour, alongside demographic variables such as gender, marital status and education on preventing overdependence, affects children’s digital habits. Utilizing partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) for analysis, the findings reveal significant, albeit moderate, relationships between parent smartphone dependency and child smartphone engagement, as well as child problematic use, with variations across different demographics. Girls showed higher engagement influenced by parental use than boys, while the effects of parental dependency did not significantly differ by marital status. Notably, parental education on preventing overdependence played a complex role in moderating these relationships. These insights emphasize the critical need for targeted educational interventions for parents and children to foster healthier digital habits. The study underscores the importance of considering demographic nuances in addressing smartphone overdependence, offering valuable implications for practitioners in digital education and policy-making.