Parental Phubbing and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms during COVID-19: A Serial Meditating Model.

Parental phubbing was positively associated with adolescent depressive symptoms; the parent-child relationship and self-concept clarity could independently mediate this relationship; and the parent-child relationship and self-concept clarity were also serial mediators in this association. These findings extend previous research by highlighting the impact of parental technology use on their children and the underlying mechanism explaining adolescent depressive symptoms. They provide practical recommendations for parents to prioritize fostering a positive family environment and minimizing phubbing behaviors to enhance adolescent development, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.