Social connectedness in mobile gaming: how family dynamics shape children’s virtual interactions (opens in new tab)

BackgroundMobile gaming is important for children’s social interaction, but its impact on real-life social connectedness depends heavily on family dynamics. How family patterns shape children’s emotional and social experiences around gaming remains underexplored, particularly qualitatively. This study examined how family dynamics influence children’s belonging, emotion regulation, and virtual interactions in mobile gaming.MethodsUsing a phenomenological design, we conducted semi-structured in...