Date of Conferral

9-30-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Michael Langlais

Abstract

Widespread use of technology, particularly smartphones, introduced new challenges involving parent–adolescent attachment. Although existing literature primarily examines parental phubbing of adolescents, there is a significant gap in research exploring the experiences of mothers who are phubbed by their adolescent children. To address this gap, the central research question guiding this study was: What are the lived experiences of mothers who have been phubbed by their adolescent (ages 14-18) children? Grounded in Bowlby’s attachment theory, this phenomenological qualitative study aimed to deepen understanding of the emotional impacts of phubbing on mothers’ emotional wellbeing, emotional bonding, and mother–adolescent attachment. A homogeneous convenience sample of eight participants was recruited for in-depth semistructured interviews between 45 and 60 minutes in order to explore their experiences. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was then applied to identify emerging themes. The five group experiential themes were a) feelings of dismissal and emotional disconnection, as adolescent phubbing weakens recognition, respect, and feelings of being valued and loved; b) use of emotion regulation, boundary-setting, and self-care as coping mechanisms to manage adolescent phubbing; c) frustration with communication barriers that weaken emotional bonding; d) rational acceptance and emotional adjustment to generational and cultural shifts caused by adolescent phubbing; and e) struggles and desires to maintain meaningful connections and fulfill attachment needs. Findings may inform positive social change through intervention strategies, policy development, and educational initiatives that are aimed at managing digital technology use in the home.

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