Parent Coaching Institute Releases Results of a Multi-National Parent-Teen Survey on Screen Use

BELLINGHAM, WA, June 24, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — The Parent Coaching Institute (PCI) announces the release of the results of their multi-national survey about screen time, smart phone use and social media. The project was conducted by Gloria DeGaetano, Founder and CEO (US) and PCI Certified Parent Coach® and PCI Instructor, Christina Gika. Parents and teens who responded were located in the US, Greece, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, Bahrain, and Jordan. Most parents and teens (ages 11-18) were not related. All were chosen randomly.

Each survey was 24 questions, most multiple choice, but a few requiring open ended answers. The goal of the project was to assess if parents and teens were on the same page about screen use and if not, why and what might be done about that. DeGaetano and Gika believed that understanding both the parent and teen unique perspectives around technology could lead to more effective family digital habits and strategies to empower young people.

DeGaetano points out, “The results were interesting, but not too surprising. They mirrored what we know from over four decades of research. While tech boundaries are absolutely necessary, how they are developed, enforced and sustained by the parents, along with how the teens perceive parental intent, become crucial factors in determining teens’ relationship with technology. Across the data, communication style, parental modeling, perceptions of trust, and collaborative boundary-setting appeared to influence how teens experienced and used technology. Our findings indicate that thoughtful parental guidance leads to teens’ internal control of their screen use.”

Gika adds, “What I value most about the findings is that they move the conversation beyond screen time and toward relationship. Our results highlight the importance of trust, communication, and connection in supporting healthy digital habits. For me, it reinforces that a strong parent-teen relationship remain one of the most powerful influences in a teen’s life.”

“And that for us is the crucial element,” DeGaetano explains, “When families prioritize connection over control, technology stops being a source of friction and starts being a tool for growth. In the end, the parent-teen bond remains the only truly un-hackable digital safety feature.” A copy of the white paper can be found here for parents and for those professionals working with parents such as counselors, child care directors, and parent educators.

The Parent Coaching Institute, recognized as an innovative leader in family support, was recently featured in an article about parent coaching. PCI attracts highly skilled professionals to its year-long, on-line Parent Coach Certification® program. Offered in affiliation with Southern New Hampshire University, PCI’s acclaimed distance-learning, graduate-level training program, enrolls family support professionals through an application process. Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Fall Term, to begin mid-September. Application deadline is September 1. For more information or to download an application form, please visit www.ThePCI.org.

About The Parent Coaching Institute
The Parent Coaching Institute (PCI) offers Parent Coach Certification® for family professionals, coaching services for moms and dads, and specialized programs for companies and organizations. Founded in 2000 by acclaimed educator and thought-leader, Gloria DeGaetano, PCI originated the parent coaching industry. Today it continues to set the highest standards for Parent Coach Certification® and for parent coaching services worldwide. The PCI is headquartered in Bellingham, Washington. For more information, please visit www.ThePCI.org, or call 425-449-8877.

—
For the original version of this press release, please visit 24-7PressRelease.com here