TY - JOUR T1 - Digital Fatigue within the Family: Psychosocial Reflections of Constant Connectedness TT - Aile İçinde Dijital Yorgunluk: Sürekli Bağlantılı Olmanın Psikososyal Yansımaları AU - Kovan, Ayşen PY - 2025 DA - October Y2 - 2025 DO - 10.32709/akusosbil.1722337 JF - Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi JO - AKÜSBD PB - Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi WT - DergiPark SN - 1302-1265 SP - 333 EP - 350 VL - 27 IS - Aile Özel Sayısı LA - en AB - The rapid integration of digital technologies into daily life has transformed how individuals connect and communicate, with emerging concerns about the psychosocial costs of constant connectivity. This study examines the relationship between digital fatigue and relationship satisfaction among married individuals in Türkiye, with attention to the associative roles of digital fatigue sub-dimensions and gender differences. Guided by Family Systems Theory (FST), the study employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using data from 384 legally married adults (Mage = 37.42, SD = 8.17) collected via online survey. SEM results indicated that digital fatigue significantly and negatively associated with relationship satisfaction, with psychological fatigue (β = –.41, p < .001) emerging as the strongest associated factor, followed by digital addiction (β = –.32, p < .01), physical/mental fatigue (β = –.22, p < .05), and psychosomatic problems (β = –.17, p < .05). Multi-group analysis further revealed that the negative effect of psychological fatigue was significantly stronger for females. While the findings underscore the systemic impact of digital fatigue on relational well-being, limitations such as the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-report data should be considered in interpreting the results. In light of Türkiye’s 2025 declaration as the “Year of the Family,” the study suggests timely guidance for strengthening relational resilience in the digital age. KW - Digital fatigue KW - relationship satisfaction KW - married individuals KW - Family Systems Theory N2 - Dijital tekolojilerin günlük hayata hızla dahil olması, bireylerin birbirleriyle bağlantı kurma ve iletişim kurma şekillerini dönüştürürken, sürekli bağlantılı olmanın yol açtığı psikososyal etkilere ilişkin endişeler de ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye’deki evli bireyler arasında dijital yorgunluk ve ilişki doyumu arasındaki ilişkiyi, dijital yorgunluğun alt boyutlarının ilişkisel rolleri ve cinsiyete göre farklılaşma durumları bağlamında incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Aile Sistemleri Teorisi (AST) çerçevesinde yapılandırılan araştırmada, 384 resmi olarak evli yetişkinden (Xyaş = 37.42, SS = 8.17) çevrimiçi anket yoluyla elde edilen veriler üzerinde Yapısal Eşitlik Modeli (YEM) uygulanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular, dijital yorgunluğun ilişki doyumu ile anlamlı ve negatif yönde ilişkili olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Alt boyutlar düzeyinde, psikolojik yorgunluk (β = –.41, p < .001) ilişki doyumu ile en güçlü negatif ilişki gösteren değişken olarak öne çıkarken; bunu dijital bağımlılık (β = –.32, p < .01), fiziksel/zihinsel yorgunluk (β = –.22, p < .05) ve psikosomatik sorunlar (β = –.17, p < .05) izlemiştir. Çoklu grup analiz sonuçları, psikolojik yorgunluk ile ilişki doyumu arasındaki negatif ilişkinin kadınlar açısından anlamlı ölçüde daha güçlü olduğunu göstermiştir. Bulgular, dijital yorgunluğun ilişkisel iyi oluş üzerindeki sistemik etkilerini vurgulamakla beraber; kesitsel araştırma deseni ve özbildirim temelli veri toplama gibi sınırlılıkların sonuçların yorumlanmasında dikkate alınması gerektiğini göstermektedir. Türkiye’nin 2025 yılını “Aile Yılı” ilan etmesi bağlamında değerlendirildiğinde, bu çalışma dijital çağda ilişkisel dayanıklılığı güçlendirmeye yönelik zamanlı ve kuramsal temelli öneriler sunmaktadır. CR - Ayyagari, R., Grover, V., Purvis, R., (2011). Technostress: Technological antecedents and implications. MIS Quarterly, 35(4), 831- 858. doi:10.2307/41409963 CR - Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497–529. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497 CR - Becvar, R. J., Becvar, D. S., & Reif, L. V. (2023). Systems theory and family therapy: A primer. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. CR - Bengtson, V. L., Acock, A. C., Allen, K. R., Dilworth-Anderson, P., & Klein, D. M. (2004). Sourcebook of family theory and research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. CR - Ben-Ze'ev, A. (2004). Love online: Emotions on the Internet. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. CR - Bhati, N., Pal, Y., & Talwar, T. (2022). Social media fatigue and academic performance: Gender differences. In Gender equity: Challenges and opportunities: Proceedings of 2nd International Conference of Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (pp. 331-337). Singapore: Springer Nature. CR - Bilgi Teknolojileri ve İletişim Kurumu (BTK). (2024). Türkiye elektronik haberleşme sektörü – 2024 3. dönemine ait pazar verileri raporu. [Türkiye electronic communications sector – Market data report for the third quarter of 2024]. Retrieved from https://www.btk.gov.tr/uploads/announcements/2024-3-donemine-ait-pazar-verileri-raporu-yayimlandi/pazar-verileri-raporu-2024-3.pdf CR - Bodenmann, G., Pihet, S., & Kayser, K. (2006). The relationship between dyadic coping and marital quality: A 2-year longitudinal study. Journal of Family Psychology, 20(3), 485-493. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.20.3.485 CR - Borelli, J. L., Nelson-Coffey, S. K., River, L. M., Birken, S. A., & Moss-Racusin, C. (2017). Gender differences in work-family guilt in parents of young children. Sex Roles, 76(5–6), 356–368. doi:10.1007/s11199-016-0579-0 CR - Bouffard, S., Giglio, D., & Zheng, Z. (2022). Social media and romantic relationship: Excessive social media use leads to relationship conflicts, negative outcomes, and addiction via mediated pathways. Social Science Computer Review, 40(6), 1523-1541. doi:10.1177/08944393211013566 CR - Bowen, M. (1993). Family therapy in clinical practice. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson. CR - Ceco, G., Taşkın, S., Uygun, E. G., Erus, S. M., & Satıcı, S. A. (2025). The indirect effect of mindfulness in marriage in the relationship between digital stress and dyadic adjustment: An investigation of dyadic effects. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 20(1), 177-191. doi:10.1007/s11482-024-10404-y CR - Chamam, S., Forcella, A., Musio, N., Quinodoz, F., & Dimitrova, N. (2024). Effects of digital and non-digital parental distraction on parent-child interaction and communication. Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 3, 1-9. doi:10.3389/frcha.2024.1330331 CR - Coyne, S. M., Stockdale, L., Busby, D., Iverson, B., & Grant, D. M. (2014). “I luv u :)!”: A descriptive study of the media use of individuals in romantic relationships. Family Relations, 60(2), 150–162. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2010.00639.x CR - Curun, F. (2001). The effects of sexism and sex role orientation on romantic relationship satisfaction (Master’s thesis, Middle East Technical University). Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/11511/12102 CR - Derks, D., & Bakker, A. B. (2014). Smartphone use, work–home interference, and burnout: A diary study on the role of recovery. Applied Psychology, 63(3), 411-440. doi:10.1111/j.1464-0597.2012.00530.x CR - Doerr, J. M., Nater, U. M., Ehlert, U., & Ditzen, B. (2018). Co-variation of fatigue and psychobiological stress in couples’ everyday life. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 92, 135-141. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.01.016 CR - Doss, B. D., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., & Markman, H. J. (2009). The effect of the transition to parenthood on relationship quality: An 8-year prospective study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96(3), 601-619. doi:10.1037/a0013969 CR - Fincham, F. D., & Beach, S. R. (2010). Marriage in the new millennium: A decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(3), 630-649. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00722.x CR - Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39-50. doi:10.1177/002224378101800104 CR - Gandarillas, M. Á., Elvira-Zorzo, M. N., Pica-Miranda, G. A., & Correa-Concha, B. (2024). The impact of family factors and digital technologies on mental health in university students. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1-14. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1433725 CR - Gao, N., Nolan, S., Ji, K., Rumi, S. K., Heinisch, J. S., Anderson, C., David, K., & Salim, F. D. (2023). “Living within four walls”: Exploring emotional and social dynamics in mobile usage during home confinement. arXiv preprint arXiv:2310.13304, 1-26. doi:10.48550/arXiv.2310.13304 CR - Gergen, K. J. (2002). The challenge of absent presence. In J. E. Katz & M. A. Aakhus (Eds.), Perpetual contact: Monile communication, private talk, public performance (pp. 227-241). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/cbo9780511489471.018 CR - Goldenberg, I., Stanton, M., & Goldenberg, H. (2016). Family therapy: An overview. Boston, MA: Cengage. CR - Gottman, J. M., & Levenson, R. W. (1992). Marital processes predictive of later dissolution: Behavior, physiology, and health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(2), 221-233. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.63.2.221 CR - Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2014). Exploratory factor analysis. In Multivariate data analysis (pp. 89-150). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. CR - Han, S. (2024). Digitalization and job stress: Exploring the mediating roles of job and personal aversion risk with gender as a moderator. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1-13. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1370711 CR - Hendrick, S. S. (1988). A generic measure of relationship satisfaction. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50(1), 93–98. doi:10.2307/352430 CR - Hertlein, K. M., & Blumer, M. L. (2013). The couple and family technology framework: Intimate relationships in a digital age. New York, NY: Routledge. CR - Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1-55. doi:10.1080/10705519909540118 CR - Jain, H., & Tyagi, A. (2024). Together but alone: Exploring the predictors of phubbing behaviour in married individuals. International Journal of Indian Psychȯlogy, 12(3). doi:10.25215/1203.054 CR - Karney, B. R., & Bradbury, T. N. (1995). The longitudinal course of marital quality and stability: A review of theory, methods, and research. Psychological Bulletin, 118(1), 3-34. doi:10.1037//0033-2909.118.1.3 CR - King, D. B., & DeLongis, A. (2014). When couples disconnect: Rumination and withdrawal as maladaptive responses to everyday stress. Journal of Family Psychology, 28(4), 460-469. doi:10.1037/a0037160 CR - Kocyigit, M., & Uzun, M. (2025). Emotion regulation and couple burnout in marriage: A moderated moderation model of authenticity, sex of parents and having children. Current Psychology, 1-15. doi:10.1007/s12144-024-07253-1 CR - Kovan, A. (2023). Social media jealousy and life satisfaction in romantic relationships: Mediation role of communication skills. Actualidades en Psicología, 37(135), 111-127. doi:10.15517/ap.v37i135.51265 CR - Kovan, A., Usta, M., & Ormancı, N. (2021). Yetişkinlerin ilişki doyumu ile psikolojik sağlamlık düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi: Covid-19 pandemi süreci örneği. Fenerbahçe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 1(2), 29-44. CR - Kuss, D., & Griffiths, M. (2014). Internet addiction in psychotherapy. New York, NY: Springer. CR - Kyalo, J. (2024). The impact of communication technology on family dynamics. Journal of Communication, 5(3), 1-16. doi:10.47941/jcomm.1981 CR - Laurenceau, J. P., Barrett, L. F., & Pietromonaco, P. R. (1998). Intimacy as an interpersonal process: the importance of self-disclosure, partner disclosure, and perceived partner responsiveness in interpersonal exchanges. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(5), 1238-1251. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1238 CR - McDaniel, B. T. (2015). “Technoference”: Everyday intrusions and interruptions of technology in couple and family relationships. In C. J. Bruess (Ed.), Family communication in the age of digital and social media (pp. 228-245). New York, NY: Peter Lang Publishing. CR - McDaniel, B. T., & Coyne, S. M. (2016). “Technoference”: The interference of technology in couple relationships and implications for women’s personal and relational well-being. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 5(1), 85–98. doi:10.1037/ppm0000065 CR - McDaniel, B. T., & Drouin, M. (2019). Daily technology interruptions and emotional and relational well-being. Computers in Human Behavior, 99, 1-8. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2019.04.027 CR - McDaniel, B. T., Galovan, A. M., & Drouin, M. (2021). Daily technoference, technology use during couple leisure time, and relationship quality. Media Psychology, 24(5), 637-665. doi:10.1080/15213269.2020.1783561 CR - McDaniel, B. T., Galovan, A. M., Cravens, J. D., & Drouin, M. (2018). “Technoference” and implications for mothers’ and fathers’ couple and coparenting relationship quality. Computers in Human Behavior, 80, 303-313. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2017.11.019 CR - Minuchin, S. (2018). Families and family therapy. New York, NY: Routledge. CR - Nabela, H. R., & Rianto, P. (2020). The use of new media technology in families and its impact on intimacy. Asian Journal of Media and Communication, 4(2), 87-98. doi:10.20885/asjmc.vol4.iss2.art3 CR - Pandey, M. K., & Rao, T. S. (2023). Distracted love: Navigating the perils of partner phubbing in the digital age. Journal of Psychosexual Health, 5(4), 195-197. doi:10.1177/26318318231203447 CR - Randall, A. K., & Bodenmann, G. (2009). The role of stress on close relationships and marital satisfaction. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(2), 105-115. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2008.10.004 CR - Roberts, J. A., & David, M. E. (2016). My life has become a major distraction from my cell phone: Partner phubbing and relationship satisfaction among romantic partners. Computers in Human Behavior, 54, 134-141. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2015.07.058 CR - Sbarra, D. A., Briskin, J. L., & Slatcher, R. B. (2019). Smartphones and close relationships: The case for an evolutionary mismatch. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 14(4), 596-618. doi:10.1177/1745691619826535 CR - Silva, H. M. (2025). The reconfiguration of social bonds in the digital age: Virtual connections vs. face-to-face relationships. Nature Anthropology, 3(1), 1-10. doi:10.70322/natanthropol.2025.10003 CR - Stafford, L. (2011). Measuring relationship maintenance behaviors: Critique and development of the revised relationship maintenance behavior scale. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28(2), 278-303. doi:10.1177/0265407510378125 CR - Supriyadi, T., Sulistiasih, S., Rahmi, K. H., Pramono, B., & Fahrudin, A. (2025). The impact of digital fatigue on employee productivity and well-being: A scoping literature review. Environment and Social Psychology, 10(2), 1-13. doi:10.59429/esp.v10i2.3420 CR - Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2013). Using multivariate statistics (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. CR - Turel, O., & Serenko, A. (2012). The benefits and dangers of enjoyment with social networking websites. European Journal of Information Systems, 21(5), 512-528. doi:10.1057/ejis.2012.1 CR - Tutar, H., & Mutlu, H. T. (2024). Dijital yorgunluk ölçeği (diyö): Geçerlilik ve güvenirlik çalışması. İletişim Kuram ve Araştırma Dergisi, (67), 56-74. doi:10.47998/ikad.1426571 CR - Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK). (2024). Hanehalkı bilişim teknolojileri (BT) kullanım araştırması, 2024 [Household information technology (IT) usage survey, 2024]. Retrieved from https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Survey-on-Information-and-Communication-Technology-(ICT)-Usage-in-Households-and-by-Individuals-2024-53492 CR - Ünal, S. (2018). The effect of social media use to the time spent with family members. International Journal of Eurasia Social Sciences, 9(31), 550-578. CR - Vangelisti, A. L. (2013). Routledge handbook of family communication. New York, NY: Routledge. CR - Vaterlaus, J. M., Patten, E. V., Roche, C., & Young, J. A. (2015). # Gettinghealthy: The perceived influence of social media on young adult health behaviors. Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 151-157. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2014.12.013 UR - https://doi.org/10.32709/akusosbil.1722337 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4970870 ER -