Decoding the Generational Digital Divide: Profiles and Predictors of Grandparents' Attitudes Toward Young Children's Technology Use.

Wenwei Luo, Huihua He, Ilene R Berson, Michael J Berson, Zhiying Wang

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Wenwei LuoShanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0014-9799

Huihua HeShanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China.ORCID 0000-0003-4628-7425

Ilene R BersonDepartment of Teaching and Learning, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8114-7474

Michael J BersonDepartment of Teaching and Learning, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7894-5851

Zhiying WangSchool of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China.ORCID 0009-0009-8025-2438

Funding

Shanghai Philosophy and Social Science Planning A2025010

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In today's digital age, child-rearing presents unique challenges that extend across generations, impacting both parenting and grandparenting. This study investigated patterns of grandparents' attitudes toward their grandchildren's technology use and identified key predictors of these patterns. Utilizing latent profile analysis (LPA) with a sample of 712 grandparents from Shanghai, China, the research identified four distinct attitudinal profiles: positively supportive, cautiously observant, low-involvement reserved, highly concerned and restrictive. Multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed that the age of the grandparent, sibling status, and the frequency of communication between grandparents and parents were significant predictors of profile membership. The findings indicate that grandparents' attitudes toward their grandchildren's technology use reflect a combination of acceptance and concern. This study underscores the need for further research and educational supports to help grandparents develop perspectives informed by an evidence base, thereby strengthening guidance strategies for young children's digital engagement.

Indexed as

attitudesgrandchildrengrandparentstechnology use

Identifiers

PMID42193711

DOI10.3390/bs16050832

PMCPMC13203561

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY

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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.