Scrolling away and inviting tussle: unveiling the impact of peer phubbing on workplace aggression

Purpose The phenomenon of “phubbing”, wherein individuals prioritise smartphone use over engaging with those physically present, has become increasingly prevalent. While this behaviour has attracted attention from organisational psychology researchers, there remains a gap in understanding how peer phubbing affects phubbed individuals’ emotions, leading to behavioural repercussions. This study, integrating the Stress-Strain-Outcome Framework and Social Exchange Theory, aims to fill this research gap by proposing and investigating: 1. how peer phubbing induces phubbed individuals’ emotional irritation, which in turn leads to workplace aggression; 2. how generational differences moderate the link between peer phubbing and emotional irritation; 3. specifically, how Gen X employees exhibit greater tolerance compared to Gen Y and Z counterparts, resulting in a reduced impact of peer phubbing on emotional irritation compared to that of the latter cohort. Design/methodology/approach Employees in Indian Government organisations were considered for the study, and a two-wave data collection was conducted via an online survey tool. Three hundred nine responses were considered suitable for data analysis, and the hypothesised model was evaluated using AMOS 24.0. Findings The study found that peer phubbing has a significant impact on workplace aggression, with emotional irritation fully mediating this relationship. Generational differences were also observed, with Gen Y and Gen Z individuals showing higher levels of emotional irritation in response to peer phubbing compared to that of Gen X individuals. These findings have important implications for understanding and managing workplace dynamics affected by smartphone use among peers. Originality/value The originality of this research lies in its focus on the indirect impact of peer phubbing on workplace aggression, specifically considering generational differences as a moderating factor. While previous studies have explored the negative effects of boss phubbing on subordinates’ psychological distress, this study delves into the consequences of peer phubbing, which is a relatively understudied area. In addition, the study emphasises the importance of understanding how Gen Y and Gen Z employees, who are less tolerant of phubbing behaviours, experience higher degrees of emotional irritation when they are phubbed by their peers. By examining the indirect role of peer phubbing in workplace aggression and the moderating effect of generational differences, this research offers a unique contribution to the field of phubbing study.