About this srcd poster session

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Panel information
Panel 24. Technology, Media & Child Development

Abstract

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“Third-wave” cognitive behavioral therapies underscore mindfulness and psychological flexibility (PF) to target self-awareness, attention, and emotion regulation (Hayes & Hofman, 2021). Navigation of self-identity is challenging in adolescence for several reasons, including increased impulsivity and decreased self-regulation, traits associated with sensation-seeking (SS) (Peréz Fuentes et al., 2016; Khurana et al., 2019). SS is associated with various behaviors, including intensive media exposure (ME) (Rahmani & Lavasani, 2011). Previous research suggests mindfulness, an awareness of one’s thoughts and behaviors, and PF, a non-judgmental stance of feelings toward goals, could facilitate mindful media usage that mitigates maladaptive behaviors (Weaver & Swank, 2024; Liu et al., 2022). The current study investigated the mediational effect of mindfulness and PF in the association between SS and ME. We evaluated three hypotheses: (1) SS and ME will be positively associated; (2) mindfulness and PF will both significantly negatively predict ME and will (3) mediate the association between SS and ME. As part of a larger study, 163 youth (68.5% White, 29.6% Black; 38.0% female) ages 9-13 years (M=11.4, SD=0.8) self-reported mindfulness (Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure; Greco et al., 2011), psychological inflexibility (Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth, AFQ-Y; Greco et al., 2008), SS (Brief Sensation Seeking Scale-4; Stephenson et al., 2003), and ME (Media Exposure Questionnaire-Adapted; Fobian et al., 2016). Reverse-coded AFQ-Y items reflected PF. Parents reported demographics. Two mediation analyses predicting ME were performed, with SS as a predictor and mindfulness or PF as a mediator. Both models controlled for age, gender, and race. Pearson correlation showed the relationship between SS and ME was insignificant (r=-.10, p=.20). Mindfulness negatively related to SS (r=-.26, p<.001) and ME (r=-.24, p=.002), while PF only negatively related to SS (r=-.21, p=.008) and not ME (r=-.12, p=.15). Mediation analyses revealed two just identified models for mindfulness and PF. Including mindfulness as a mediator, the total effect of SS on ME was insignificant (β=-.09, p=.19), but the direct effect of SS on ME was significant (β=-.17, p<.05), indicating partial mediation. The indirect effect of SS on ME was significant (β=-.08, 95% CI [0.01, 0.19], p<.05). PF did not mediate the relation between SS and ME (β=-.02, p=.84), with no direct (β=-.06, p=.56) or indirect effects (β=.04, 95% CI [-0.01, 0.17], p=.22). Mindfulness could protect against high sensation-seeking as youth increasingly and excessively turn to technology for self-discovery. Interestingly, the association between ME and SS became significant when mindfulness was included as a mediator, indicating possible thought suppression from higher levels of mindfulness and replicating previous research (Smith-Russell & Bowen, 2023). Hypotheses about PF were not supported, perhaps due to an invalid assessment of PF constructs. However, PF influences other maladaptive behaviors (Ishizu et al., 2022), highlighting the benefits of mindfulness and PF in “third-wave” interventions to encourage conscientious decision-making as adolescents engage online in potentially risky behaviors and establish their self-identity.

Author information

Author	Role
Julia Marcelle WenKang Hall, University of Alabama At Birmingham	Presenting author
Yixin Wang, University of Alabama At Birmingham	Non-presenting author
David C. Schwebel, University of Alabama At Birmingham	Non-presenting author

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