Parents’ addiction to smartphones is destroying their bond with their children.

Parents’ attachment to smartphones and constant use of gadgets in front of children can provoke serious psychological consequences. A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology reveals how the technological dependence of adults affects the formation of children’s psyche and the development of their self-confidence.

How screens affect relationships

600 American teenagers aged 12 to 17 took part in a large-scale survey. The results of the study show that children whose parents are “immersed” in smartphone screens often feel neglected or ignored. This behavior of parents contributes to the formation of the so-called “unreliable attachment” in the child, which makes family relations disturbing.

Consequences for the child

Insecure attachment negatively affects the personal growth of children. The following changes are observed in them:

• Decreasing the level of self-confidence.
• Decreased self-esteem.
• Difficulties in establishing close contacts with peers and adults.
• Lack of desire to take justified risks necessary for success in life.

Don Grant, a media psychologist and member of the American Psychosomatic Association, emphasizes that this pattern of “insecure attachment” can be carried by a child throughout adulthood.

“Technoference”: what is it?

Researchers single out a phenomenon called “technoference” – a situation where the presence of devices during communication undermines the quality of social connections. If earlier this concept was associated mainly with relations between adult partners, now the impact on parent-child relations is becoming obvious. The statistics are alarming: about 50% of American teenagers claim that their parents are regularly distracted by smartphones during interactions. At the same time, adults themselves often deny the existence of a problem, even despite the recognition that smartphones can interfere with spending quality time with the family.

Real picture vs parents’ perception

Experts point to a gap between the subjective opinion of parents and reality: many of them are convinced that they spend enough time with their children, attending all activities, from sports training to concerts. However, children give a different assessment: “Yes, you were there physically, but you were busy on the phone.”

Conclusions

This work is an important signal for parents, because most of the efforts before this were aimed at fighting the addiction of children themselves. Now it is clear that the behavior of parents needs correction: psychologist Don Grant points out that adults are prone to the same digital manipulations as children, and often cannot independently break this circle of influence of technology.