{"id":71816,"date":"2021-11-25T09:48:40","date_gmt":"2021-11-25T09:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=71816"},"modified":"2026-05-12T04:10:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T04:10:14","slug":"what-is-phubbing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/mental-health\/what-is-phubbing\/","title":{"rendered":"What is phubbing in relationships and how to deal with it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Young<\/p>\n

Technology connects us more than ever before, yet somehow, it has also become the biggest barrier in our personal relationships. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Imagine sitting across from your partner at dinner, excited to share your day, but every time you speak, their eyes are glued to their phone. You feel invisible, as if whatever’s happening on that screen is far more important than your presence. <\/span><\/p>\n

This behavior is called <\/span>phubbing<\/span><\/i>—the act of snubbing someone in favor of a screen device.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what is phubbing in a relationship, and how does phubbing <\/span>affect relationships<\/span><\/a> over time? <\/span><\/p>\n

If you’ve ever felt that familiar sting of being ignored for a screen, you’re not alone. <\/span><\/p>\n

Research<\/span><\/a> indicates that phubbing can lead to decreased satisfaction and increased conflict between partners.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n

If this sounds like something you’ve experienced, this article will help you understand the impact of phubbing and offer practical ways to deal with it while you try to protect your connection.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>What is phubbing in a relationship?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

So, what does phubbing mean in romantic relations? Or what is phubbing behavior in relationships?<\/span><\/p>\n

The term ‘phubbing’ was first coined in May 2012 by an Australian advertising agency and became popular through their campaign called ‘Stop Phubbing.’ <\/b><\/p>\n

So, what does the term phubbing mean? It’s a portmanteau of two words – phone and snubbing. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now, what is phone snubbing? Phubbing is phone snubbing. <\/span>It’s the act of snubbing someone by paying more attention to your smartphone.<\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

So, it happens when you start to<\/span> ignore someone<\/span><\/a> you’re talking with in person in favor of your mobile phone or any handheld device. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s a phubbing example that shows what it looks like. Maybe you’re texting back a friend who lives a thousand miles away while you’re sitting at the dinner table and about to have a meal with your spouse. That’s phubbing right there.<\/span><\/p>\n

There’s nothing wrong with trying to stay in touch with a friend. But the problem is you need to pay more attention to your partner when they’re trying to know about your day and probably feeling left out and hurt by your actions.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>6 signs you or your partner are a phubber<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

It can become difficult to understand what is phubbing in daily life, but clear signs can help you detect it within your relationship. Let’s look into some of them below: <\/span><\/p>\n

  1. Checking one’s phone every time it rings, even during a conversation.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. From the bathroom to the dinner table – phubbers take their phone almost everywhere.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. No matter what they’re doing or with whom, a phubber may keep looking at their phone.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Even when lying next to their partner, phubbers hold onto their phone instead of giving full attention to their partner.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. They may halfheartedly talk to the person they’re with while texting other people who aren’t around.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. They immediately reach out for their phone when awkward silence or a lull in the conversation happens.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>

    <\/span>4 ways phubbing ruins your relationship<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

    \"Young<\/p>\n

    A<\/span> study<\/span><\/a> found that smartphone addiction is the culprit behind phubbing behavior, along with FOMO - The fear of missing out, internet addiction, and lack of self-control. It also showed that 17% of people engage in phubbing at least four times a day, while another 32% are phubbed 2-3 times daily.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n

    What is phubbing in a relationship? Well, it happens when one partner texts somebody, scrolling through their Facebook news feed, or plays games instead of giving attention to the other partner.<\/span><\/p>\n

    1. Low marital satisfaction<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Not only is it quite rude to your partner, but phubbing in a marriage can also be particularly detrimental. <\/span><\/p>\n

    A<\/span> study<\/span><\/a> found that depression and lower<\/span> marital satisfaction<\/span> can result from the phubbing behavior of a couple toward each other.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n

    Dr. Jennifer Jacobsen<\/span><\/a>, PhD in Psychology, states,<\/span><\/p>\n

    Phubbing can prevent partners from truly connecting during quality time together, which is damaging to the marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n

    2. Poor mental health<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Also, conflicts arising from phubbing can negatively affect your relationship satisfaction and psychological well-being. You might wonder how<\/span> cell phones destroy relationships<\/span><\/a> or why texting ruins relationships. <\/span><\/p>\n

    It’s because phubbing might make your<\/span> partner feel<\/span><\/a> unimportant when you’re busy scrolling through your phone while they’re trying to have a conversation with you. Your partner should never have to compete with an electronic device for your attention.<\/span><\/p>\n

    3. Emotional disconnect<\/b><\/h3>\n