Review

Phubbing in the digital age: Understanding and mitigating the impact on social interactions and relationships

Volume: 9 Number: 3 September 11, 2025

Phubbing in the digital age: Understanding and mitigating the impact on social interactions and relationships

Abstract

Phubbing, the act of ignoring someone in favor of engaging with a smartphone, has become a significant issue in contemporary society, affecting communication and relationships across various social contexts. This article comprehensively explores phubbing, beginning with its historical evolution and early definitions. It examines the different types of phubbing, including its occurrence in romantic relationships, workplaces, and family settings. The review systematically synthesizes a decade of literature (2014–2024) sourced from databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, TR Dizin, and thesis repositories. Approximately 145 relevant studies were reviewed, emphasizing key subtypes of phubbing and their impact on interpersonal communication. Psychological and social predictors such as personality traits and social media addiction are analyzed, alongside major theories including Social Exchange Theory and Technological Determinism. Strategies for mitigating phubbing are also proposed, aiming to foster healthier relationships with technology and enhance face-to-face interaction.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors would like to express gratitude to Ibn Haldun University for their valuable support in making this study possible.

Ethical Statement

Ethical Considerations: Not Applicable.

References

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  2. Abdi, F., Jahangiri, M., Kamalinia, M., Cousins, R., & Mokarami, H. (2021). Presenteeism and work ability: Development of the Persian version of the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (P-SPS-6) and measurement of its psychometric properties. BMC Psychology, 9(1), 120. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00617-3
  3. Abeele, M. (2020). The social consequences of phubbing. In Rich Ling, Leopoldina Fortunati, Gerard Goggin, Sun Sun Lim, & Yuling Li (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of mobile communication and society. Oxford University Press.
  4. Ajzen, I. (1985). From Intentions to Actions: A theory of planned behavior. In Julius Kuhl & Jürgen Beckmann (Eds.), Action control (pp. 11–39). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69746-3_2
  5. Al-Saggaf, Y. (2021). Phubbing, Fear of Missing out, and Boredom. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 6(2), 352–357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-020-00148-5
  6. Al-Saggaf, Y., MacCulloch, R., & Wiener, K. (2019). Trait boredom is a predictor of phubbing frequency. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 4(3), 245–252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-018-0080-4
  7. Andreassen, C. S., Billieux, J., Griffiths, M. D., Kuss, D. J., Demetrovics, Z., Mazzoni, E., & Pallesen, S. (2016). The relationship between addictive use of social media and video games and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: A large-scale cross-sectional study. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 30(2), 252–262. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000160
  8. Balta, S., Emirtekin, E., Kircaburun, K., & Griffiths, M. D. (2020). Neuroticism, trait fear of missing out, and phubbing: The mediating role of state fear of missing out and problematic Instagram use. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 18(3), 628–639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-018-9959-8

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychology Education, Educational Technology and Computing

Journal Section

Review

Early Pub Date

August 8, 2025

Publication Date

September 11, 2025

Submission Date

April 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 28, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 3

APA
Nazir, T. (2025). Phubbing in the digital age: Understanding and mitigating the impact on social interactions and relationships. Anadolu University Journal of Education Faculty, 9(3), 273-292. https://doi.org/10.34056/aujef.1672999
AMA
1.Nazir T. Phubbing in the digital age: Understanding and mitigating the impact on social interactions and relationships. AUJEF. 2025;9(3):273-292. doi:10.34056/aujef.1672999
Chicago
Nazir, Thseen. 2025. “Phubbing in the Digital Age: Understanding and Mitigating the Impact on Social Interactions and Relationships”. Anadolu University Journal of Education Faculty 9 (3): 273-92. https://doi.org/10.34056/aujef.1672999.
EndNote
Nazir T (September 1, 2025) Phubbing in the digital age: Understanding and mitigating the impact on social interactions and relationships. Anadolu University Journal of Education Faculty 9 3 273–292.
IEEE
[1]T. Nazir, “Phubbing in the digital age: Understanding and mitigating the impact on social interactions and relationships”, AUJEF, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 273–292, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.34056/aujef.1672999.
ISNAD
Nazir, Thseen. “Phubbing in the Digital Age: Understanding and Mitigating the Impact on Social Interactions and Relationships”. Anadolu University Journal of Education Faculty 9/3 (September 1, 2025): 273-292. https://doi.org/10.34056/aujef.1672999.
JAMA
1.Nazir T. Phubbing in the digital age: Understanding and mitigating the impact on social interactions and relationships. AUJEF. 2025;9:273–292.
MLA
Nazir, Thseen. “Phubbing in the Digital Age: Understanding and Mitigating the Impact on Social Interactions and Relationships”. Anadolu University Journal of Education Faculty, vol. 9, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 273-92, doi:10.34056/aujef.1672999.
Vancouver
1.Thseen Nazir. Phubbing in the digital age: Understanding and mitigating the impact on social interactions and relationships. AUJEF. 2025 Sep. 1;9(3):273-92. doi:10.34056/aujef.1672999

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