Attachment, perceived partner phubbing, and retaliation: A daily diary study
Attachment, perceived partner phubbing, and retaliation: A daily diary study
Objective: We conducted a diary study to investigate the role of adult attachment on responses to daily perceived partner phubbing in a sample of couple members (N=196). Method: We focused on personal and relational well-being as well as reactions to phubbing, retaliation reports and motives as outcomes. Results: Results showed that on days when participants perceived their partner as phubbing them more, participants higher in attachment anxiety reported higher depressed mood and lower self-esteem, however their relationship satisfaction was not impacted. In response to partner phubbing, participants higher in attachment anxiety reported more resentment, curiosity, and retaliation in response to phubbing. When retaliating to phubbing, those higher in attachment anxiety did so to seek support and approval from others, whereas those higher in attachment avoidance did so to gain approval from others. Conclusions: Our findings contribute to the understanding of how adult attachment patterns influence people’s responses to partners’ phubbing and well-being.
phubbing, attachment, relationship satisfaction, daily diary, retaliation
Carnelley, Kathy
02a55020-a0bc-480e-a0ff-c8fe56ee9c36
Hart, Claire
e3db9c72-f493-439c-a358-b3b482d55103
Vowels, Laura
b34cebde-0e97-4f39-8c48-874f6555a52b
Thomas, Tessa T.
5075806d-fea3-4a97-9cfb-e2465c2a2b0d
8 August 2025
Carnelley, Kathy
02a55020-a0bc-480e-a0ff-c8fe56ee9c36
Hart, Claire
e3db9c72-f493-439c-a358-b3b482d55103
Vowels, Laura
b34cebde-0e97-4f39-8c48-874f6555a52b
Thomas, Tessa T.
5075806d-fea3-4a97-9cfb-e2465c2a2b0d
Carnelley, Kathy, Hart, Claire, Vowels, Laura and Thomas, Tessa T.
(2025)
Attachment, perceived partner phubbing, and retaliation: A daily diary study.
Journal of Personality.
(doi:10.1111/jopy.70012).
Abstract
Objective: We conducted a diary study to investigate the role of adult attachment on responses to daily perceived partner phubbing in a sample of couple members (N=196). Method: We focused on personal and relational well-being as well as reactions to phubbing, retaliation reports and motives as outcomes. Results: Results showed that on days when participants perceived their partner as phubbing them more, participants higher in attachment anxiety reported higher depressed mood and lower self-esteem, however their relationship satisfaction was not impacted. In response to partner phubbing, participants higher in attachment anxiety reported more resentment, curiosity, and retaliation in response to phubbing. When retaliating to phubbing, those higher in attachment anxiety did so to seek support and approval from others, whereas those higher in attachment avoidance did so to gain approval from others. Conclusions: Our findings contribute to the understanding of how adult attachment patterns influence people’s responses to partners’ phubbing and well-being.
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Attachment Phubbing Diary_JoP_July 23_2ndrevision
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Journal of Personality - 2025 - Carnelley - Attachment Perceived Partner Phubbing and Retaliation A Daily Diary Study
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Accepted/In Press date: 27 July 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 8 August 2025
Published date: 8 August 2025
Keywords:
phubbing, attachment, relationship satisfaction, daily diary, retaliation
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Local EPrints ID: 503719
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/503719
ISSN: 0022-3506
PURE UUID: fbd81ac2-64bb-474d-9eee-1a276aa72adb
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Date deposited: 11 Aug 2025 16:54
Last modified: 01 Oct 2025 01:40
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Author:
Laura Vowels
Author:
Tessa T. Thomas
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