Parental phubbing, rejection, frustration of relatedness needs, and problematic social media use among Italian adolescents: A two-wave study

Problematic social media use (PSMU) is growing among adolescents. Cross-sectional studies have shown that parental phubbing is positively associated with PSMU. However, more studies are needed to examine the stability of such an association over time during adolescence. To address this gap, a two-wave study was conducted examining the stability over time of associations between parental phubbing, parental rejection, frustration of relatedness needs, and PSMU. A sample of Italian adolescents (N = 939; Mage = 14 years [SD ± 1.23]; 56% females) completed an online survey administered at schools. A cross-lagged panel model was tested, and age-group differences were explored using multi-group analysis. Results showed that parental phubbing at Wave 1 (W1) predicted parental rejection and frustration of relatedness needs at Wave 2 (W2), while parental rejection and frustration of relatedness needs were bidirectionally associated over time. However, only the frustration of relatedness needs at W1 predicted PSMU at W2. Two different patterns emerged between age groups. Findings suggest that parental phubbing could be a risk factor for maintaining feelings of rejection toward parents and hampers relatedness needs, with developmental differences in vulnerability to PSMU.