A recent study highlights the impact of parental screen use on children’s emotional well-being, revealing that frequent distractions caused by devices may weaken the parent-child bond and contribute to insecure attachment patterns among adolescents. The research was prompted by reports from teenagers who described feeling sidelined when their parents prioritized screens over direct interaction.

Don Grant, a psychologist who counsels teens on media use, noted that many of his clients expressed frustration with their parents’ screen habits, describing experiences where parents were physically present but mentally absorbed in their phones. These behaviors — occurring during family meals, school events, and recreational activities — led children to feel marginalized and ignored.

The study, which surveyed 600 adolescents aged 12 to 17, focused on teens’ perceptions of how often their primary caregivers were distracted by devices, rather than measuring actual screen time. Researchers identified several terms relevant to these dynamics, including “technoference,” referring to technology interfering with interpersonal communication, and “phubbing,” the act of snubbing someone in favor of a phone. Another concept, “absent presence,” describes being physically present but mentally elsewhere due to device engagement.

Grant and his colleagues found a correlation between higher reported levels of parental technoference and insecure attachment in teens. Such attachment insecurity was characterized by anxiety in relationships and a tendency toward emotional withdrawal. These findings held across demographic factors such as age, gender, race, and ethnicity.

While emphasizing that parents should not be expected to eliminate all device use, Grant advised that acknowledging children’s attempts to gain attention is crucial. He recommended parents clearly communicate when they are busy and when they will be available, helping children feel recognized even if immediate engagement is not possible.

Certain contexts should be designated as device-free to foster connection. Family dinners, school events, and playground visits were highlighted as key opportunities for parents to set aside phones and focus on their children. Grant underscored that occasional exceptions, such as being on call for work, do not negate the importance of minimizing habitual distractions.

Grant also stressed the importance of parental availability when teens seek to talk, noting that if youngsters perceive their parents as too distracted, they may turn to peers, online strangers, or digital assistants instead. His intention is not to add to parental guilt, but to raise awareness among “digital native” parents—many of whom grew up surrounded by screens—about the potential unintended consequences of their device habits on children’s emotional development.

The research arrives amid heightened scrutiny of social media’s effects on youth, following recent legal actions targeting major digital platforms for their addictive qualities. The findings suggest that addressing parental screen use is an additional step in supporting children’s mental health and fostering secure family relationships.