Qiyu Bai1, Li Lei2, Fang-Hsuan Hsueh3, Xiaoqi Yu2, Huahua Hu4, Xingchao Wang5, Pengcheng Wang6. 1. Research Center of Journalism and Social Development, School of Journalism and Communication, Renmin University of China, No. 59 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100872, China. 2. School of Education, Renmin University of China, No. 59 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100872, China. 3. Department of Sociology, Peking University, No.5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, China. 4. Centre for Health Behaviours Research, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. 5. School of Educational Science, Shanxi University, China. 6. School of Education, Renmin University of China, No. 59 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100872, China. Electronic address: tianhai001@126.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: With the widespread of smartphones, there is an increased interest in exploring the influences of phubbing in modern society. However, little research has examined the impact of parent phubbing (Pphubbing) or adolescent phubbing (Aphubbing) on adolescent development. This conceptual and empirical work aims to explore the unique and joint impacts of Pphubbing and Aphubbing on adolescents' depressive symptoms. METHOD: Participants were 3322 students from 64 classes of a senior high school. The data were analyzed with polynomial regressions and response surface analyses. RESULTS: The results showed that Pphubbing was positively related to Aphubbing. Pphubbing and Aphubbing were both positively associated with adolescents' depressive symptoms. In addition, when Pphubbing and Aphubbing were in congruence, adolescents' depressive symptoms would increase as the former two increased. Moreover, adolescents' depressive symptoms would decrease as the discrepancy between parent and adolescent increased. Meanwhile, attachment avoidance moderated the congruence and incongruence effects of parent-adolescent phubbing on adolescents' depressive symptoms. LIMITATIONS: This study used cross-sectional data, which cannot infer causality. CONCLUSION: The effect between parent-adolescent congruence in phubbing and adolescents' depressive symptoms is significant, and it is moderated by attachment avoidance.
BACKGROUND: With the widespread of smartphones, there is an increased interest in exploring the influences of phubbing in modern society. However, little research has examined the impact of parent phubbing (Pphubbing) or adolescent phubbing (Aphubbing) on adolescent development. This conceptual and empirical work aims to explore the unique and joint impacts of Pphubbing and Aphubbing on adolescents' depressive symptoms. METHOD:Participants were 3322 students from 64 classes of a senior high school. The data were analyzed with polynomial regressions and response surface analyses. RESULTS: The results showed that Pphubbing was positively related to Aphubbing. Pphubbing and Aphubbing were both positively associated with adolescents' depressive symptoms. In addition, when Pphubbing and Aphubbing were in congruence, adolescents' depressive symptoms would increase as the former two increased. Moreover, adolescents' depressive symptoms would decrease as the discrepancy between parent and adolescent increased. Meanwhile, attachment avoidance moderated the congruence and incongruence effects of parent-adolescent phubbing on adolescents' depressive symptoms. LIMITATIONS: This study used cross-sectional data, which cannot infer causality. CONCLUSION: The effect between parent-adolescent congruence in phubbing and adolescents' depressive symptoms is significant, and it is moderated by attachment avoidance.