Impact of Attachment Styles on Relationship Satisfaction: Mediating Role of Phubbing Behavior 

Abstract

Being a technology driven and triggered world, it is extremely important for the individuals to remain virtually connected. But sometimes such virtual connections lead the individuals towards phubbing because of which relational satisfaction among the individuals has been lost. The purpose of our study is to analyze the impact of the individual attachment styles on the relationship satisfaction by the mediating role of phubbing behavior. In light of Bowlby attachments styles our study conceptualizes that secured individuals are contended with their surrounding’s hence phubless, and remain contended in their relationships. Whereas the insecurely attached individuals are the ones who phubbed more which ultimately leads them towards less relationship satisfaction. The present study is the first to conceptualize such framework.

Insecure Attachment Styles and Phubbing: The Mediating Role of Problematic Smartphone Use

“…Third, in support of Shams et al [58], both dimensions of insecure attachment styles examined in the present study were found to be significantly and positively associated with phubbing. Especially, individuals with attachment anxiety tend to be concerned about rejection by others, and they have a strong need for intimacy with others [33].…”

“…They further demonstrated the mediating role of attachment style, such that less enduring relationships were related to higher attachment anxiety, resulting in increased perceptions of partner phubbing. Additionally, Shams et al [58] explored the direct influences of attachment styles on phubbing and found securely attached people to be less likely to engage in the use of smartphones during face-to-face interactions, whereas those with a preoccupied attachment style-thus more attachment anxiety-tended to phub others more frequently and thus place greater strain on their own and their partner's relationship satisfaction.…”

“…However, because attachment avoidant individuals tend to devalue closeness, they are more likely to use "deactivating" strategies to help maximize independence and distance themselves from others [33]. Thus, to reduce intimacy and avoid uncomfortable face-to-face interactions, they may be relatively more inclined to phub others, and at least one study [58] has indicated that avoidant (or dismissive) attachment directly increases phubbing relative to secure attachment.…”