Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41072004›Full record

ReviewJMIR pediatrics and parenting2025

Effect of Digital Safety Interventions on Parental Practices in Safeguarding Children's Digital Activities: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Maggie Zgambo, Edah Anyango, Diana H Arabiat, Irene Ngune, Evalotte Mörelius, Min Zhang, Lisa Claire Whitehead

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in JMIR pediatrics and parenting, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Maggie ZgamboSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8667-795X
Edah AnyangoSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8677-5047
Diana H Arabiat *School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2325-0398
Irene Ngune *School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4951-2712
Evalotte Mörelius *School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3256-5407
Min ZhangSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1580-7400
Lisa Claire Whitehead *School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6395-0279

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe prevalence of and growth in digital technology present opportunities for educational and social enrichment; however, there are also many health and digital safety risks for children engaging with digital technology. While there is a growing body of research on digital safety programs to enhance children's digital safety through parental support, evidence regarding the effectiveness of such interventions remains limited.

objectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of digital safety interventions on parental practices related to safeguarding children's digital activities.

methodsThe review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews and has been reported in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed in May 2024 in MEDLINE, CINAHL Ultimate, PsycINFO, Web of Science, The Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, ProQuest Central, and IEEE Xplore databases to identify peer reviewed articles that were (1) published in English, (2) included parents as participants, and (3) reported on programs or interventions designed to enhance parents' knowledge and skills to safeguard children's digital safety.

resultsA total of 11 published studies between 2012 and 2024 were included in the review. Data from 8 studies were included in the meta-analysis. A significant effect (Hedges g=-0.47; 95% CI -0.85 to -0.08; P<.001) was observed in children's screen time in the 5 randomized controlled studies, while a large effect size was observed in 3 quasi-experimental studies (Hedges g=1.90; 95% CI -4.36 to 8.16; P<.001). A substantial level of heterogeneity was evident in the randomized studies (I

conclusionsParents who participate in digital safety interventions report higher levels of knowledge and skills related to digital safety, as well as a shift in attitudes, including the intention to implement strategies to safeguard their children engaging with technology. The enhanced knowledge and skills reported in these studies led to measurable reductions in both parents' and children's screen time. Future research should identify strategies that address community norms and other digital safety risks beyond screen time and bullying, which were predominant outcomes in these studies.

Indexed as

childdigital literacydigital safetydigital technologyintervention effectivenessmeta-analysisparental educationparental mediationscreen time

Identifiers

PMID41072004
PMCPMC12552826

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.