Observing phubbing behaviors during casual and serious conversations: consequences for conversation quality, connectedness, and appropriateness

Abstract The present study investigated observers’ perspectives of smartphone use during social interactions in serious and casual conversational contexts, suggesting gender differences. The results of the between-subjects 2 × 2 experimental study show that female observers perceive lower conversati...

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Main Authors: Anja Stevic, Hanna Liftinger, Jörg Matthes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02426-4
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author Anja Stevic
Hanna Liftinger
Jörg Matthes
author_facet Anja Stevic
Hanna Liftinger
Jörg Matthes
author_sort Anja Stevic
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The present study investigated observers’ perspectives of smartphone use during social interactions in serious and casual conversational contexts, suggesting gender differences. The results of the between-subjects 2 × 2 experimental study show that female observers perceive lower conversation quality when observing phubbing than male observers, aligning with the need-threat model’s assertion of female susceptibility to social exclusion. Moreover, observing phubbing diminishes perceived appropriateness of the interaction. Interestingly, no disparity was found in casual versus serious topics of the conversations. Societal implications are discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-a951f4a5dc7c42a887cbc3e4bd3ac91e2025-08-20T03:04:07ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-02-011311910.1186/s40359-025-02426-4Observing phubbing behaviors during casual and serious conversations: consequences for conversation quality, connectedness, and appropriatenessAnja Stevic0Hanna Liftinger1Jörg Matthes2Stanford UniversityUniversity of ViennaUniversity of ViennaAbstract The present study investigated observers’ perspectives of smartphone use during social interactions in serious and casual conversational contexts, suggesting gender differences. The results of the between-subjects 2 × 2 experimental study show that female observers perceive lower conversation quality when observing phubbing than male observers, aligning with the need-threat model’s assertion of female susceptibility to social exclusion. Moreover, observing phubbing diminishes perceived appropriateness of the interaction. Interestingly, no disparity was found in casual versus serious topics of the conversations. Societal implications are discussed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02426-4PhubbingExperimental studyProblematic smartphone useObserver perspectiveSocial interactionInterrupted conversation
spellingShingle Anja Stevic
Hanna Liftinger
Jörg Matthes
Observing phubbing behaviors during casual and serious conversations: consequences for conversation quality, connectedness, and appropriateness
BMC Psychology
Phubbing
Experimental study
Problematic smartphone use
Observer perspective
Social interaction
Interrupted conversation
title Observing phubbing behaviors during casual and serious conversations: consequences for conversation quality, connectedness, and appropriateness
title_full Observing phubbing behaviors during casual and serious conversations: consequences for conversation quality, connectedness, and appropriateness
title_fullStr Observing phubbing behaviors during casual and serious conversations: consequences for conversation quality, connectedness, and appropriateness
title_full_unstemmed Observing phubbing behaviors during casual and serious conversations: consequences for conversation quality, connectedness, and appropriateness
title_short Observing phubbing behaviors during casual and serious conversations: consequences for conversation quality, connectedness, and appropriateness
title_sort observing phubbing behaviors during casual and serious conversations consequences for conversation quality connectedness and appropriateness
topic Phubbing
Experimental study
Problematic smartphone use
Observer perspective
Social interaction
Interrupted conversation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02426-4
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