Factors associated with media use for parenting information: A cross-sectional study among parents of children aged 0-8 years

Aim: Media use may strengthen parents' capacities to deal with parenting issues. This study examined which factors are associated with media use for parenting information. Design: Cross-sectional data of 658 parents of children aged 0-8 years, gathered in the CIKEO cohort study in the Netherlands, were analysed. Methods: Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine which factors were associated with media use for parenting information. Results: The mean age of the participants was 33.8 years (SD = 5.0); 94.7% were mothers; 77.4% used media for parenting information. Parents with more questions or concerns (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.23, 1.59), and parents who received parenting information from their social contacts (OR: 5.57, 95% CI: 3.22, 9.61), had higher odds of media use for parenting information. Older parents (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91, 1.00), and parents of older children (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.95), had lower odds of media use for parenting information.

Automated summary

This study found that parents with more questions or concerns, as well as those who received parenting information from their social contacts, were more likely to use media for parenting information. Older parents and parents of older children had lower odds of using media for parenting information.