Using the ABC-X model of family stress, this study examines how parent resources and deficits of resources (e.g. depressive symptoms, problematic media use) relate to parents’ use of media emotion regulation practices, as well as the moderating role of child emotional reactivity and household income in these processes. Survey data from 598 parents of 3–7-year-olds in the United States, 33.44% White, 23.58% Black, 19.40% Hispanic, 18.90% Asian, and 4.68% multi-racial/ethnic, was examined in an SEM framework. Analyses revealed parents’ problematic media use and child emotional reactivity related positively to media emotion regulation practices. Furthermore, the relationship between parent problematic media use and media emotion regulation practices was significantly moderated by both child emotional reactivity and household income. As child emotional reactivity increased, the relationship between parent problematic media use and media emotion regulation practices strengthened (becoming more positive). The same pattern was found for household income. Results underscore the interacting roles of parents’ own relationships with media, child reactivity, and household income in shaping media emotion regulation practices. Findings suggest that supporting parents in improving their media relationships may reduce their tendency to use devices to calm children, especially among affluent parents or parents of highly reactive children.

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