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Phubbing may link loneliness to lower well-being

Lower self-esteem and greater romantic loneliness may help explain how perceived phone disengagement relates to psychological well-being in young adults.

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • October 13, 2026

  • 3 min

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  • 1

    A cross-sectional study examined 1,627 heterosexual, unmarried adults aged 18 to 35 years who were in romantic relationships.

  • 2

    Greater perceived partner phubbing was associated with lower self-esteem, greater romantic loneliness, and lower psychological well-being.

  • 3

    Structural equation modeling supported a fully mediated association in which self-esteem and romantic loneliness accounted for the link between phubbing and well-being.

  • 4

    The direct association between partner phubbing and psychological well-being was not statistically significant when included in the model.

  • 5

    The cross-sectional design, self-reported measures, convenience sampling, and limited participant diversity preclude causal conclusions and constrain generalizability.

Original Source(s)

Phubbing may link loneliness to lower well-being

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • October 13, 2026

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