Partner phubbing and quality of romantic relationship in emerging adults: testing the mediation role of perceived partner responsiveness and moderation role of received social support
Abstract Background and aims The association between partner phubbing and the quality of romantic relationships (QR) is inconsistent in previous studies. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying such an association are still unclear. The current study examined the association between partner phubbing...
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02942-3 |
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| author | Xin Wang Momo Su Lvzhou Ren Huihui Xu Xinyi Lai Jiankang He Mingxuan Du Chengjia Zhao Guohua Zhang Xue Yang |
| author_facet | Xin Wang Momo Su Lvzhou Ren Huihui Xu Xinyi Lai Jiankang He Mingxuan Du Chengjia Zhao Guohua Zhang Xue Yang |
| author_sort | Xin Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background and aims The association between partner phubbing and the quality of romantic relationships (QR) is inconsistent in previous studies. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying such an association are still unclear. The current study examined the association between partner phubbing and QR, the potential mediating role of perceived partner responsiveness (PPR), and the moderation effects of received social support (RSS) and gender in this association among emerging adults. Methods An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 772 Chinese young adults with regular romantic partners (mean age = 21.54). Results The moderated mediation model showed that PPR mediated the negative association between partner phubbing and QR among females but not for males (indirect effect = -0.17, 95% CI [-0.24, -0.10], PM = 70.8%). RSS significantly moderated the positive association between PPR and QR in both females and males. In males, RSS significantly moderated the negative association between partner phubbing and QR and between partner phubbing and PPR. Conclusions This is the first study to test both PPR and RSS as potential mechanisms in the association between partner phubbing and QR, which underlines the potential interpersonal implications of partner phubbing among young couples. The results highlight the different associations and paths from partner phubbing to QR in males and females. Clinical trial number Not applicable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-67bf73d5b3204e7896086de3890cedf5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-67bf73d5b3204e7896086de3890cedf52025-08-20T02:31:00ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-06-0113111010.1186/s40359-025-02942-3Partner phubbing and quality of romantic relationship in emerging adults: testing the mediation role of perceived partner responsiveness and moderation role of received social supportXin Wang0Momo Su1Lvzhou Ren2Huihui Xu3Xinyi Lai4Jiankang He5Mingxuan Du6Chengjia Zhao7Guohua Zhang8Xue Yang9Center for Health Behaviours Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong KongResearch School of Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National UniversityDepartment of Psychology, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychology, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychology, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychology, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychology, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychology, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychology, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical UniversityCenter for Health Behaviours Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong KongAbstract Background and aims The association between partner phubbing and the quality of romantic relationships (QR) is inconsistent in previous studies. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying such an association are still unclear. The current study examined the association between partner phubbing and QR, the potential mediating role of perceived partner responsiveness (PPR), and the moderation effects of received social support (RSS) and gender in this association among emerging adults. Methods An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 772 Chinese young adults with regular romantic partners (mean age = 21.54). Results The moderated mediation model showed that PPR mediated the negative association between partner phubbing and QR among females but not for males (indirect effect = -0.17, 95% CI [-0.24, -0.10], PM = 70.8%). RSS significantly moderated the positive association between PPR and QR in both females and males. In males, RSS significantly moderated the negative association between partner phubbing and QR and between partner phubbing and PPR. Conclusions This is the first study to test both PPR and RSS as potential mechanisms in the association between partner phubbing and QR, which underlines the potential interpersonal implications of partner phubbing among young couples. The results highlight the different associations and paths from partner phubbing to QR in males and females. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02942-3Emerging adultsPartner phubbingPerceived partner responsivenessQuality of romantic relationshipReceived social support |
| spellingShingle | Xin Wang Momo Su Lvzhou Ren Huihui Xu Xinyi Lai Jiankang He Mingxuan Du Chengjia Zhao Guohua Zhang Xue Yang Partner phubbing and quality of romantic relationship in emerging adults: testing the mediation role of perceived partner responsiveness and moderation role of received social support BMC Psychology Emerging adults Partner phubbing Perceived partner responsiveness Quality of romantic relationship Received social support |
| title | Partner phubbing and quality of romantic relationship in emerging adults: testing the mediation role of perceived partner responsiveness and moderation role of received social support |
| title_full | Partner phubbing and quality of romantic relationship in emerging adults: testing the mediation role of perceived partner responsiveness and moderation role of received social support |
| title_fullStr | Partner phubbing and quality of romantic relationship in emerging adults: testing the mediation role of perceived partner responsiveness and moderation role of received social support |
| title_full_unstemmed | Partner phubbing and quality of romantic relationship in emerging adults: testing the mediation role of perceived partner responsiveness and moderation role of received social support |
| title_short | Partner phubbing and quality of romantic relationship in emerging adults: testing the mediation role of perceived partner responsiveness and moderation role of received social support |
| title_sort | partner phubbing and quality of romantic relationship in emerging adults testing the mediation role of perceived partner responsiveness and moderation role of received social support |
| topic | Emerging adults Partner phubbing Perceived partner responsiveness Quality of romantic relationship Received social support |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02942-3 |
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