‘Phubbing’ is ruining relationships

Researchers at Baylor University in Texas said they found when someone felt phubbed by their partner it created conflict and led to lower levels of relationship satisfaction. “Something as common as cellphone use can undermine the bedrock of our happiness – our relationships with our romantic partners”, Roberts said.

Busted. We’re all guilty of “phubbing” every so often, but did you know it could be negatively influencing your relationships? Reportedly, the effects of phubbing go beyond putting strains on relationship; it can also impact confidence and overall happiness, which may lead to depression. She added that people should be more aware of the frequency of cell phone usage as well as their behavior when bonding with partners.

In total 453 Americans answered questions to determine the effects of “Pphubbing” – partner phone snubbing.

The first survey of 308 adults helped Roberts and David develop a “Partner Phubbing Scale”, a nine-item scale of common smartphone behaviors that respondents identified as snubbing behaviors.

To find results, the researchers developed a Pphubbing scale, that included statements such as “my partner places his or her cellphone where they can see it when we are together” and “my partner glances at his/her cellphone when talking to me”.

Walk down the street and notice how many people are looking at their phones.

Other areas of measurement in the second survey included cellphone conflict, relationship satisfaction, life satisfaction, depression and interpersonal attachment style (eg, “anxious attachment” describes people who are less secure in their relationship).

People often assume that brief cellphone distractions are no big deal, but the survey indicates that’s not so, study co-author Meredith David, an assistant professor of marketing, said in the news release.

Generally, 32 percent said that they are still satisfied with their relationship despite their partner’s pphubbing.

The study will be published in the January 2016 issue of the journal Computers in Human Behaviour.

Roberts said that the study findings were astounding, he said that something like cellphone use can weaken an individual’s relationship with his/her romantic partner.

The Baylor University research team caution that, as far as they could tell, pphubbing can seriously damage a relationship, maybe even end it. Besides, it can translate into depression.