ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of fathers’ digital parenting competency on parenting stress and to verify the mediating role of parenting efficacy in this relationship. To achieve this, a survey was conducted with 266 fathers of children aged 3 to 5 years, measuring their digital parenting competency, parenting efficacy, and parenting stress. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 through frequency analysis, correlation analysis, and three-step mediated regression analysis. The results of the study are as follows. First, fathers in their 30s (the MZ generation) showed relatively higher digital parenting competency, particularly in areas such as usage guidance, management, and digital beliefs, compared to those in their late 40s (the X generation). Second, a significant correlation was found where higher digital parenting competency was associated with increased parenting efficacy and decreased parenting stress. Third, parenting efficacy was found to fully mediate the relationship between digital parenting competency and parenting stress, and the Sobel test confirmed that this mediating effect was statistically significant. In conclusion, this study identifies a mechanism in which higher digital parenting competency enhances parenting efficacy, thereby more effectively alleviating parenting stress. By shifting the focus from traditional mother-centered research to emphasize the importance of paternal digital competency, this study provides meaningful academic and practical insights for developing future digital parenting empowerment programs specifically designed for fathers.

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