The impact of technology usage on love and intimacy satisfaction among Portuguese adults

Abstract

Phubbing, the act of ignoring someone to use the smartphone, has been a concern because of its consequences on social interaction. The present study aims to verify the phubbing practice's impact on satisfaction with a loving relationship and intimacy. This study was a quasi-experimental, cross-sectional, and quantitative study. The sample consisted of 384 individuals, 255 women, and 129 men. A sociodemographic questionnaire and instruments were applied Phubbing Scale (PS), Mobile Phone Usage Addiction Scale (MPUAS), Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), Game Addiction Scale (GAS), SMS Addiction Scale (SAS), Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) and Psychological Intimacy Scale (PIS). The statistical program used for data analysis was the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The only dimensions of phubbing that influenced satisfaction with the love relationship were the communication disturbance, and in women, the difficulties of controlling the smartphone's use, and the need to share on social media. Results showed that: 1- satisfaction with the relationship is associated with the levels of intimacy. Another finding was that intimacy is related to a communication disturbance and phone obsession in women and difficulties in controlling smartphone use in men.