Peer-reviewed article
PARENTING MEDIATION AND MONITORING: HOW FAMILY STRUCTURE SHAPES RESPONSES TO CHILDREN’S ONLINE SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Roberta Matković, Lucija Vejmelka, Tomislav Ramljak ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how parents in single-parent and two-parent families respond to children's online sexual harassment in Croatia. A survey of 1,667 parents found that both family types use similar strategies to protect children online, but parents in two-parent households were more likely to discuss problems with their children when they occurred. The research suggests that open communication and parental involvement matter more than family structure alone for keeping children safe online.
Key points
- Single-parent and two-parent families adopt largely similar parental mediation strategies for online risks
- Parents in two-parent families were more likely to engage in discussions with children when online problems were identified
- Parenting behaviors such as communication, monitoring, and readiness to act play a significant role in child online protection
- The study involved 1,667 parents of school-age children in Croatia
- Systematic education and support programs for all parents are emphasized as important for online safety
Limitations
The study is based on parent reports only and does not capture children's perspectives or experiences of online harassment. The findings are specific to Croatia and may not generalize to other countries with different digital contexts and family structures.
Abstract
Children from single-parent families may face greater challenges related to both internalized and externalized difficulties compared to those raised in two-parent households. The digital age adds further risks, with the need to protect children from online threats such as sexual harassment. This study examines parental mediation and response strategies in the context of child online sexual harassment, focusing on differences between single-parent and two-parent families. A nationally representative quantitative survey was conducted within the deSHAME2 project in Croatia, which involved 1,667 parents of school-age children. Using structured questionnaires and validated measurement scales, the study explored how parents engage in internet safety discussions with their children, their level of concern about online harassment, and the specific actions they take when faced with such incidents. Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistical methods, including the Mann-Whitney test and Spearman’s rank correlation. Findings reveal that while single-parent and two-parent households adopt largely similar parental mediation strategies and responses to online risks, parents in two-parent families were more likely to engage in discussions with their children when a problem was identified. These results suggest that parenting behaviors such as communication, monitoring, and readiness to act may play a more significant role in child online protection than family structure alone. By highlighting these patterns, the study emphasizes the importance of systematic education and support programs for all parents. Fostering proactive parental involvement in and open communication about online safety remain essential steps in reducing children’s exposure to digital risks, regardless of family composition.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Parental mediation and monitoring strategies, including internet safety discussions and response actions when harassment occurs
- Population
- 1,667 parents of school-age children in Croatia, comparing single-parent and two-parent households
Key finding
Single-parent and two-parent families use largely similar parental mediation strategies overall