Study Links Parents' Phone Use to Anxiety in 600 US Teens

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 9

A Frontiers in Psychology study of 600 US adolescents ages 12 to 17 found parents' screen attachment and "phubbing" were linked to greater anxiety and insecurity in children.
Teens reported feeling devalued, dismissed or unimportant when parents focused on phones during bids for connection, which lead author Don Grant said can foster insecure attachment, lower self-esteem and lasting confidence problems.
The authors said the findings reflect adolescents' perceptions rather than proof that every phone-distracted parent causes harm, but add to a small body of research on parental device use.
That evidence is building as smartphone ownership has reached 98% of US adults, with earlier studies in China in 2023 and the US in 2024 also tying parents' phone use to screen addiction, distant relationships and behavioral problems in children.

Sources

The Guardian3h ago

Study: Parents' Phone Attachment Linked to Anxiety, Insecurity in US Children

Yahoo! Voices3h ago

There's a specific kind of loneliness kids feel when a parent is in the room but on their phone ignoring them — child psychologists say it registers differently from absence, because the

Gizmodo23h ago

New Study Says Parents' Phone Use Might Be Giving Kids Attachment Issues Later On

How does a parent's screen time rewire a child's brain for anxiety?

When a parent loves their phone, what does it teach a child about love?

Parental Smartphone Use and Adolescent Well-being: Risks to Attachment, Social Skills, and Mental Health

Overview

This report explores how parents’ frequent use of digital devices is increasingly noticed by teenagers, who worry that such distraction harms their own social and emotional development. When parents are often absorbed in their phones, it disrupts meaningful interactions and makes teens feel less important, leading to emotional distance even when parents are physically present. Over time, this can weaken the secure attachment between parent and child, making adolescents more vulnerable and hindering their development of vital social skills. The report highlights that parental digital habits have real consequences for adolescent well-being, emphasizing the need for mindful technology use within families.

...