Longitudinal associations between adolescents’ smartphone distraction management during family time and their relationships with parents

Bibliographic Data

ID22413402
AuthorsEunyoung Park (0000-0002-2251-3582, University of Minnesota, corresponding author), Xiaoran Sun (0000-0002-8431-401X, University of Minnesota), Kimberly M Molaib (University of Washington), Nilam Ram (0000-0003-1671-5257, Stanford University), Byron Reeves (Stanford University), Byron B Reeves (Stanford University), Thomas N Robinson (0000-0002-2367-0774, Stanford University)
Year2026
Volume46
Issue5
Pages648-665
Publication date2026-05-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEducational Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0144-3410 • E-ISSN: 1469-5820
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01443410.2026.2619052
PMID41835094
OpenAlexW7125707983
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited61

Although smartphone distractions are common and impactful in adolescents’ lives, how adolescents manage these distractions remains understudied, particularly with respect to family relationships. This study examined the concurrent and time-lagged associations between adolescents’ frequency of smartphone distraction management (SDM) during family time and their relationship quality with their mother and father. The sample included 152 adolescents (Mage = 15.5, SD = 1.45; 48.0% female) who reported their SDM every two weeks and their family relationships monthly for 6 months. Adolescents reported often managing smartphone distractions when spending time with family members (41.5% to 80.3% of SDM occurrence across time points). Multilevel models revealed positive within- and between-person concurrent associations between adolescents’ SDM and their relationship quality with mothers and fathers, but monthly time-lagged associations were nonsignificant. Findings highlight SDM as a potentially malleable factor shaping family functioning and illuminate the potential effectiveness of interventions that promote SDM in enhancing adolescents’ well-being.

Distraction · Family relationship · Longitudinal study · Parenting styles · Self-control · Statistical analysis · Time management · Child Development and Digital Technology · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Impact of Technology on Adolescents

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access