Parental Mediation During Covid-19 Lockdown in Singapore

This study investigates parents’ perception and management of children’s digital device usage during the pandemic (COVID-19), especially during lockdown conditions. Through qualitative online interviews conducted, between December 2020 and March 2021, with 17 Singaporean parents, participants were specifically probed on the changes (versus pre-pandemic days) in parental mediation strategies, and what precipitated those changes with the purpose to investigate the shifting environmental situation and its impact on the parental mediation theory. Theoretically, this study adopted a predictor approach that takes into consideration external factors (global pandemic), and how it influences parental mediation strategies employed. This study found that parents were hard-pressed in managing their children and work at the same time, as children had to study from home, while parents had to work from home. The concerns parents had pre-lockdown were more pronounced during the pandemic but found ways to cope with the situation. This study suggests that parents should consider how to leverage on technological means to alleviate and support parents’ management of their children’s digital usage during such difficult times.