Parenting and parental phubbing: Adolescents’ perceptions and the moderating role of gender in the Greek context

This study draws on attachment and social learning theories to explore the relationship between adolescents' perceptions of parenting dimensions (rejection, emotional warmth, overprotection/control and anxious rearing) and parental phubbing—which is when a parent ignore their child in favor of using a smartphone. Given the growing use of digital devices in family interactions, understanding these dynamics is critical. A sample of 326 adolescents (12 to 16) completed the Egna Minnen Betraffande Uppfostran (Memories from my upbringing) questionnaire and the Generic Scale of Being Phubbed assessing parenting styles and parental phubbing for each parent separately. The results showed that parental rejection and overprotection/control were linked to parental phubbing, while emotional warmth was associated with lower levels of maternal and paternal phubbing. Gender differences emerged in father-child interactions; boys reported that higher paternal controlling behavior was related to more paternal phubbing, while girls reported that higher paternal anxious rearing was linked to less paternal phubbing. Furthermore, gender moderated the relationship between paternal behaviors and perceptions of paternal phubbing, with a stronger effect seen in girls. These findings suggest that parental behaviors characterized by emotional unavailability or excessive control may contribute to or reinforce patterns of digital disengagement. Implications include the need for interventions that promote parental emotional presence and reduce digital distractions, such as programs promoting mindful smartphone use in parenting.