Parental phone distraction linked to insecure attachment in adolescents, study finds

A new study from the Newport Healthcare Research and Innovation Center warns that the pervasive glow of a parent's smartphone can subtly erode the emotional bond with their teenager. The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, introduces a newly developed tool called the Device Attachment Interference Scale (DAIS) and finds a direct link between perceived digital distraction and insecure attachment in youth.

The trigger and the scale

The investigation was sparked by a poignant moment. A colleague of the study's lead author, clinical psychologist Don Grant, shared that her daughter had asked, "Do you love your phone more than me?" This question, coupled with over a decade of clinical observations, led Grant and his team to develop the DAIS. The scale is a self-report instrument designed to measure how adolescents perceive their primary caregivers' technology use and whether it interferes with attention, availability, and interaction.

Several years ago, a clinical psychologist colleague who knew my work in device-related behavior contacted me and told me that her daughter had asked if she loved her phone more than her.

Key findings from 600 US teens

The researchers surveyed a nationally representative sample of 600 American adolescents aged 12 to 17. The results were consistent: the higher the score on the DAIS, the more likely the teenager exhibited insecure attachment. Both dimensions of insecurity, anxious attachment and avoidant attachment, were elevated. Anxiously attached individuals may cling to others for reassurance, while avoidant individuals distance themselves to minimize emotional risk.

Attachment is malleable. Therefore, even if a secure attachment is established with a child, it can become insecure, even during adolescence. Obviously, no parent would want this for their child.

Consequences for adult life

Insecure attachment established in the teenage years is not a transient phase. The study underscores that it is associated with poorer mental health in adulthood and greater difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships. Conversely, secure attachment is linked to more satisfying relationships and higher overall well-being. The authors note that digital distraction can join a list of known risk factors such as parental conflict, neglect, and substance abuse, but with one critical difference.

The use parents make of their devices is completely under their control. That is why we think it is a different behavior, one they can actually act upon.

A message for millennial parents

Grant emphasizes that the findings carry special weight for millennials, often considered the first generation of digital natives, who are now themselves raising teenagers. Because this cohort grew up deeply entwined with technology, they may be more vulnerable to device dependence and less aware of its impact on their children's emotional development. The study authors hope the DAIS scale can serve as a practical screening tool for clinicians and a wake-up call for families.

I believe millennials, in particular, need to know about this research. Considered by some as the first generation of 'digital natives', they were more vulnerable to device dependence. Now they are becoming parents. I really want them to know about our study to help them avoid the potential negative consequences of their device use on their children's attachment security.