To examine the developmental trajectories of phubbing among Chinese adolescents and investigate the association between mobile phone usage duration and growth patterns.
Approach:
Key Findings:
Adolescent phubbing increased significantly over time with substantial individual differences.
Four distinct trajectory groups were identified: Low-Level—Rising Group, Medium-Level—Stable Group, High-Level—Declining Group, Very High-Level—Sharp Decline Group.
Mobile phone usage duration was positively associated with the initial level of phubbing but negatively associated with the rate of change.
Longer mobile phone usage duration was linked to a greater likelihood of membership in trajectory groups with higher initial levels of phubbing.
Interpretation:
The study reveals both an overall increase and meaningful heterogeneity in adolescent phubbing trajectories, with mobile phone usage duration being an important but limited indicator of phubbing development.
Limitations:
The study is limited to middle school students in Jiangxi Province, China, which may affect generalizability.
The reliance on self-reported measures may introduce bias.
Conclusion:
The findings provide a longitudinal basis for understanding adolescent phubbing and suggest the need for differentiated prevention strategies.
