Online Risks and Parental Mediation Strategies Comparison of Turkish Children/Adolescents Who Live In Turkey and Europe

Abstract

The individuals who go online may face with both opportunities and risks. When developmental stages are considered, late childhood and adolescence is more tended to experience these opportunities and risks. One of the most influencial factors which shape online risks and opportunities is parental mediation strategies. The main aim of this study was examining online risks and perceived parental strategies among Turkish children/adolescents who live in Turkey and Europe within a comparative approach.

Data of the study were based on EU Kids Online-II survey which aims to investigate children’s/adolescents’ and their parents’ online experiences in 25 European countries. Turkey sample included 962 participants (513 male, 449 female; M_age= 12.19, SD=2.15). A total of 182 participants (103 females, 79 males; M_age=12.70, SD=2.30) were involved in European sample.

Results revealed that the associations between parental mediation strategies and online risks have differed in Turkey and Europe. Active mediation strategies were positively related with online risks in Turkey, while this relationship was insignificant in Europe. On the other hand, restrictive mediation strategies were positively related with online risks in Europe, while this relationship was insignificant in Turkey. Parental monitoring which was examined as the third parental mediation strategy was also functioning differently as a mediator across samples. It was found to mediate positively between active mediation strategies and online risks in Turkey, while it was mediating negatively between restrictive mediation strategies and online risks in Europe.