How parental stress shapes digital parenting: a study in disadvantaged areas

Parental stress is one of the most important psychosocial factors affecting parenting attitudes and behaviors in the digital age. Mothers living in socioeconomically disadvantaged regions may experience higher levels of parenting stress due to caregiving burden, limited social support, and economic hardship. This may directly influence how they manage their children’s digital media use and shape their digital parenting attitudes. This study aimed to examine the association between parental stress and digital parenting attitudes among mothers living in disadvantaged areas. This descriptive and correlational cross-sectional study was conducted between May and August 2025 in Şanlıurfa, Türkiye. The sample consisted of 374 mothers with children aged 6–12 years living in socioeconomically disadvantaged regions. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the Parenting Stress Scale, and the Digital Parenting Attitude Scale. Independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Tukey post hoc test, Pearson correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis were used for statistical evaluation. Statistical significance was accepted as p < .05. The mean Parenting Stress Scale score was 35.31 ± 8.62, and the mean Digital Parenting Attitude Scale score was 50.43 ± 6.97. Parenting stress differed significantly according to mothers’ educational status, children’s daily media use, and the method used to control children’s internet use ( p < .05). Digital parenting attitude scores differed significantly according to mothers’ age, family type, number of children, and the method used to control children’s internet use ( p < .05). Parental stress was weakly and positively correlated with digital parenting attitudes ( r = .241, p < .001) and was significantly associated with digital parenting attitudes in the simple linear regression analysis (β = 0.241, R² = 0.058, p < .001). In conclusion, parenting stress was significantly but weakly associated with digital parenting attitudes. Integrated public health interventions combining parental stress management and digital parenting education should be strengthened in primary healthcare services.