International Journal of Human Research and Social Science Studies

The proliferation of digital technology in the domestic sphere has introduced "technoference"—the interruption and interference of technology use in interpersonal interactions—as a significant concern for family wellbeing. This quantitative study examines the relationship between technoference and parenting stress among Gen Z parents in Ghana, investigating the mediating roles of parental responsiveness and marital satisfaction, and the moderating role of work-from-home (WFH) arrangements. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 420 parents (aged 22-35 years) through stratified random sampling across five regions in Ghana. Validated instruments measured technoference (Technoference Scale), parenting stress (Parenting Stress Index-Short Form), parental responsiveness (Responsiveness subscale of the Parenting Dimensions Inventory), marital satisfaction (Couples Satisfaction Index), and WFH status. Mediation analysis using PROCESS Macro (Model 4) with 5,000 bootstrap resamples revealed that technoference was positively associated with parenting stress (β = 0.34, p < .001). This relationship was partially mediated by parental responsiveness (indirect effect β = 0.11, 95% CI [0.07, 0.16]) and marital satisfaction (indirect effect β = 0.09, 95% CI [0.05, 0.13]). The serial mediation through responsiveness → marital satisfaction was also significant (indirect effect β = 0.06, 95% CI [0.03, 0.09]). Moderation analysis (PROCESS Model 1) revealed that WFH arrangements significantly moderated the technoference-parenting stress relationship (interaction β = 0.19, p = .002), with the association being stronger for parents working from home compared to those working outside the home. The findings extend the Technoference Framework and the Family Stress Model, providing culturally grounded insights for interventions targeting technology use in the domestic sphere. Implications for workplace policies, parenting programmes, and family therapy are discussed.

Technoference, parenting stress, work-from-home, parental responsiveness, marital satisfaction, Gen Z, Ghana, family technology, digital distraction

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