A Qualitative Sociopsychological Study of Expectancy Violation and Uses and Gratifications Theories Pertaining to Phubbing Behavior and Reception in Generation X Women

The overall aim of this dissertation project was to examine the effects of phone snubbing, called phubbing, on Generation X women born between 1965 and 1980 who reside in the United States. This qualitative dissertation explored the experiences Generation X women have with the reception and action of the act of phubbing others through 18 semi-structured interviews via dyadic face-to-face conversation. The study’s findings indicate that Generation X women dislike being phubbed, negatively impacting conversational, communication, and relational satisfaction. Further indications suggest Generation X women typically try to avoid phubbing others, except for the felt need to check on their children or aging parents. To mitigate the negative communication effect of phubbing, most participants first share the need for a potential phub with their conversational partners, which seems to ameliorate the negative phubbing effect.