What Is Phubbing? The Social and Emotional Impact of Phone Snubbing on Teen Mental Health
According to research, phubbing behaviors are highly prevalent among youths aged between 12 and 21 years and are linked with mental health issues like depression, low self-esteem, and loneliness.1
This effect may be because distractions caused by mobile phones during social interactions can make it harder to feel closeness to others. Plus, they may reduce empathy and even lead to feelings of rejection or exclusion among teenagers.2 Further, phubbing could also negatively impact parents’ behaviors, damaging their relationships with their teens.3
Mental health issues as a result of phubbing can persist as teens transition into mature adults. Therefore, it may be important to understand how digital trends like phubbing can change friendships, emotional health, and even family bonds.
Learning about phubbing and how to encourage healthier patterns of communication is one step toward promoting better mental health in teens. A mental health professional can guide you in this process. This guide can also help, as it explores:
What phubbing means and its effect on teens- How phone dependency causes attachment issues
- The guidance you should provide as a parent to reduce phubbing behavior
- Types of therapy for teens with screen overuse issues
- How Mission Prep can help with building healthy communication in teens
Understanding Phubbing Meaning and Effects on Teens
It’s normal for a teen to spend a lot of time on their phone. However, if your teen is always on their phone in class, during meals, and when socializing with peers, they can start to internalize the belief that face-to-face interactions are unimportant. Therefore, it may become harder to trust people and could leave them feeling disconnected from others.
Studies back up how phubbing behavior can result in social disconnectedness among adolescents.4 It can affect the quality of relationships in teens’ lives by reducing or even eliminating physical social cues like eye contact and immediate responses like body language. Further, it may limit the subtlety of tonal voice shifts during conversations.
To put it simply, phubbing can result in a habit of ignoring others in favor of a mobile phone, which may hurt relationships and cause low self-esteem. As a consequence, it can lead to stress, poor sleep, and young people questioning their worth due to neglected interactions.
Another side effect of phubbing is digital addiction. Teens may start to rely more on phones for comfort. Therefore, instead of going to family or peers for emotional support, the phone might become their primary validation source, allowing face-to-face bonds to fade into the background.
Gradually, this cycle can intensify anxiety in a teen as they continuously seek digital engagement. They may even feel restless and incapable of paying attention unless their phone is accessible, potentially leading to loneliness.5
How Phone Dependency Causes Attachment Issues
For example, a teen who feels brushed aside by family or friends when reaching out could easily read the reaction as rejection. If such interactions happen often enough, they may leave a teen second-guessing whether they matter to others.
In the context of families, the emotional consequences of phone neglect can be heavy when a teen perceives a parent to consistently phub them. Teens could start to feel like they come second to a device, and this feeling may weaken the bond between parent and child. Therefore, in therapy for teens with screen overuse issues, it’s common to see attachment struggles tied directly to digital habits at home.
As a result of attachment issues, a teen may start to rely on their phones as a source of validation. However, this can create a vicious cycle, as their relationships could worsen, compounding their beliefs of low worth. Additionally, phone dependency could lead to restlessness, irritability, sadness, and poor sleep.8
Fixing phone dependence means making conscious changes. Building healthy communication in teens involves showing them that connection works best when people are present. Parents and peers can rebuild trust by setting aside screens, practicing real-time attention, and creating moments that feel reliable. Such small choices tell teens they are seen, heard, and valued.
Parental Guidance for Reducing Phubbing Behavior
If your teen shows signs of phubbing behaviors, as a parent, you may want to help them re-engage in real-time interactions as much as possible. There are a couple of small actions you could take that could make a big difference, including:
Modeling Healthy Phone Use Patterns
Modeling healthy patterns is a good first step for parents wishing to tackle phubbing. If a parent constantly checks their phone during meals or conversations, teens may learn that divided attention is acceptable. However, by intentionally setting screens aside during shared moments, parents send a clear message that their child matters more than their phone.
Creating Family Routines
Family routines play an important role in setting boundaries around phone use. Screen-free habits for better relationships can include “no-phone zones,” such as the dinner table, or set times each evening when devices are silenced, like before bed. Routines such as this can create structure and make it easier for adolescents to relax without feeling they are missing out online. Plus, with time, such habits can reduce a sense of phone addiction, helping teens feel calmer and more engaged in the long run.
Promoting Intentional Connections
When teens are on the receiving end of phubbing, there can be emotional consequences. One such consequence is a teen seeking validation online. Parents can try to avoid this by offering and promoting intentional, healthy connections. For instance, a parent who asks meaningful questions, listens without distraction, and maintains eye contact shows the teen that their thoughts matter.
Additionally, coping strategies for digital distractions are more effective when they are practiced together. For example, family walks, cooking projects, or shared games can build connections strong enough to pull teens away from screens
Teaching Respect for In-Person Time
Parents could also encourage peers to respect in-person time. Teen relationships and phone distraction can improve when social groups agree on shared screen-free activities. Parents can guide this by supporting opportunities for sports, clubs, and creative outlets where digital engagement takes a back seat. By creating consistent, real-world connections, parents can help teens learn what respectful attention should look like.
Types of Therapy for Teens with Screen Overuse Issues
When phones start taking over daily life, therapy can help adolescents recover balance. Therapy for teens with screen overuse issues gives teens a chance to talk about why phones feel so important.
For some, inpatient treatment for tech-addicted teens may be required, especially if phone use has caused severe social withdrawal or mental health problems. In these structured settings, professionals help adolescents reset routines and rediscover interests that do not involve a screen.
However, outpatient therapy is often a good fit for teens who aren’t showing risky behaviors but who need to better understand why their phone is such an important source of validation. The following therapy options can be delivered in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
DBT for Interpersonal Effectiveness in Teens
Research shows that dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be effective in treating internet overuse and similar issues.9 DBT teaches skills for communication, boundaries, and emotional regulation. When applied to digital overuse, it helps adolescents learn how to prioritize relationships over constant phone checking. As a result, DBT for interpersonal effectiveness in teens can reduce conflict, improve family conversations, and repair trust that has worn down by phone dependency.10
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT can help adolescents examine the thoughts that fuel digital compulsion, such as I will be left out if I do not reply instantly. By reframing such patterns, teens may discover that they can still belong without constant phone use. CBT could also help reduce the anxiety that may stem from constant digital engagement.11
Expressive Therapies
Expressive therapies can also be valuable in treating phone addiction. Art, movement, or horticultural therapy could provide new outlets for attention and stress relief. These alternatives may help counter digital addiction and social disconnection by reconnecting adolescents with sensory experiences that soothe and regulate the nervous system. Therefore, teens who struggle to put their emotions into words may find that creative activities help them process stress in a safe way.12
Combined Inpatient Programs
Inpatient treatment for tech-addicted teens may combine multiple strategies into one coordinated plan. These programs often integrate DBT, CBT, and expressive therapies, ensuring that adolescents learn coping strategies for digital distractions while rebuilding trust in face-to-face connections. Therapy in inpatient settings could also help address attachment issues caused by phone dependency and show teens they can feel secure in steady, real relationships.
Reach Out to Mission Prep for Help with Building Healthy Communication in Teens
Phubbing might seem like a small irritation, but for teens, it can leave deeper marks. When phones start taking priority over real connections, trust may become shaken, attention might slip, and emotional health could suffer.
In fact, over time, constant phone engagement can feed anxiety, create attachment struggles, and leave young people feeling isolated. Parents can make a big difference by modeling presence, setting aside screen-free times, and encouraging coping strategies for digital distractions. These everyday steps could help teens see that real-life connections feel better than scrolling.
For families who feel stuck in unhealthy patterns, outside help is available. At Mission Prep, we work with teens dealing with screen overuse issues and also provide inpatient treatment for tech-addicted teens who need a higher level of care. Our team uses evidence-based approaches, including DBT for interpersonal effectiveness in teens, alongside trauma-informed and family-centered sessions that help rebuild trust and strengthen bonds.
Reaching out is not about blame; it is about creating space for healthier habits. With the right support, families can repair communication, lower stress, and give teens the tools they need to feel steady and connected again. If your household is struggling with phone distraction and its impact, Mission Prep is here to help you take the next step. Reach out today if you’d like to learn more about how our team can support your family.
References
- Barbed-Castrejón, N., Navaridas-Nalda, F., Mason, O., & Ortuño-Sierra, J. (2024). Prevalence of phubbing behaviour in school and university students in Spain. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1396863. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1396863/full
- Hutabarat, K. A. N., Indriyani, K. S., & Latipun. (2024). The phubbing phenomenon in adolescents: Uncovering the impact of technology on social relationship quality. Social Science and Humanities Journal, 8(10), 5169–5177. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384538648_The_Phubbing_Phenomenon_in_Adolescents_Uncovering_the_Impact_of_Technology_on_Social_Relationship_Quality
- Pang, G., Wang, C., & Kang, C. (2025). The relationship between parental phubbing and bullying behavior in middle school students: the mediating role of family closeness and negative emotions. BMC Psychology, 13(1), 364. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11983833/
- Ang, C.-S., Teo, K.-M., Ong, Y.-L., & Siak, S.-L. (2019). Investigation of a preliminary mixed method of phubbing and social connectedness in adolescents. Addiction & Health, 11(1), 1–10. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6612240/
- MacDonald, K. B., & Schermer, J. A. (2021). Loneliness unlocked: Associations with smartphone use and personality. Acta Psychologica, 221(103454), 103454. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691821002043
- Ballarotto, G., Volpi, B., Marzilli, E., & Tambelli, R. (2018). Adolescent Internet abuse: A study on the role of attachment to parents and peers in a large community sample. BioMed Research International, 2018, 5769250. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5863292/
- Yang, W., Tang, L., Shen, X., Niu, G., Shi, X., Jin, S., Zhang, Y., & Yuan, Z. (2023). Parental phubbing and adolescent depressive symptoms during COVID-19: A serial meditating model. Behavioral Sciences, 13(5), 371. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10215679/
- Ding, Q., Dong, S., & Zhang, Y. (2023). Does parental phubbing aggravates adolescent sleep quality problems? Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1094488. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9939447/
- Siste, K., Hanafi, E., Adrian, Sen, L. T., Alison, P., & Beatrice, E. (2022). Online dialectical behavioral therapy for adults with internet addiction: A quasi-experimental trial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychiatry Research, 315(114698), 114698. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35792416/
- Syversen, A. M., Schønning, V., Fjellheim, G. S., Elgen, I., & Wergeland, G. J. (2024). Evaluation of dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents in routine clinical practice: a pre-post study. BMC Psychiatry, 24(1), 447. https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-024-05876-z
- Seligman, L. D., & Ollendick, T. H. (2011). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders in youth. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 20(2), 217–238. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3091167/
- Kumar, V., Pavitra, K. S., & Bhattacharya, R. (2024). Creative pursuits for mental health and well-being. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 66(Suppl 2), S283–S303. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10911317/
