Phubbing: mobile phone use and social interactions

• Main Author: Syazana, Sari binti Mohamed Ridzwan *
• Format: Thesis
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: BF Psychology; HM Sociology
• Online Access: http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/2414/

The behaviour of an individual using their phone while in face-to-face interactions with others has been referred to as phone snubbing (phubbing). There is some evidence that this practice can adversely affect social interactions. Two studies were conducted which investigated how phubbing may influence the perceived quality of the interaction between pairs of friends (Study 1), and pairs of unacquainted individuals (Study 2). Thirty-three pairs of same-sex friends aged between 18 to 26 years participated in Study 1. They answered an online survey assessing their friendship quality and were observed via CCTV while waiting in a room together prior to beginning Study 2. Participants rated the quality of the interaction they had had with their friend during this five-minute waiting period, and the CCTV video recordings were coded for phubbing behaviours. In Study 2, the participants from Study 1 were separated and randomly assigned to one of three conditions. Throughout a 10-minute discussion on home decoration items, same-sex confederates responded to either one, three, or no text messages on their mobile phones. Participants then rated the quality of the interaction with the confederates, and answered questions regarding their knowledge of phubbing. For Study 1, time spent phubbing did not significantly predict interaction quality with friends after controlling for friendship quality. However, for Study 2, the number of text messages received affected the perceived quality of the interaction with the confederate. Participants in the three texts condition rated the quality of the interaction with the confederate significantly lower than those in the control (no texts) group. Though participants may not have known the word ‘phubbing’, they reported being familiar with the behaviour and many of them viewed it as inappropriate. These findings suggest that phubbing may be detrimental when interacting with unacquainted individuals, which could have negative consequences for forming new relationships.