Parenting Styles as Moderators of Parental Digital Stress on Child Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: The rapid expansion of digital technology has introduced parental digital stress, characterized by anxiety related to managing children’s screen use, online safety, and technology-related conflicts. While parenting stress and child mental health are well studied independently, their interaction through parenting styles remains underexplored. Objective: This review aimed to (a) synthesize evidence on parental digital stress and its impact on child mental health, (b) examine the moderating role of parenting styles, and (c) contextualize findings within the Indian setting. Methods: A systematic search of six databases (2006–2025) identified 68 eligible studies following screening. Findings were synthesized narratively across four domains, guided by ecological and contextual parenting frameworks. Results: Parental digital stress is a multidimensional construct including screen time concerns, online safety anxiety, technoference, and digital parenting challenges. Parenting style significantly moderated child mental health outcomes (anxiety, behavior, sleep, and social-emotional development). Authoritative parenting showed protective effects, while authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved styles were associated with poorer outcomes. Indian findings indicate high adolescent smartphone addiction (64.6%), notable sleep issues (especially among girls), and low parental digital literacy. Parenting style is a key modifiable factor influencing the impact of digital stress on child mental health. Authoritative parenting acts as a protective buffer.