Simge EVRENOL ÖÇAL, Şahika ŞİMŞEK ÇETİNKAYA, Esra TİNGİROĞLU
Middle Black Sea Journal of Health Science - 2026;12(2):275-293
Objective: This study examined the impact of partner phubbing behavior on women's marital adjustment and perceived romantic relationship quality. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was employed. Data were collected from 363 women currently in romantic relationships using validated self-report scales assessing phubbing, marital adjustment, and relationship quality. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) were used to summarize participant characteristics and key variables. Independent Samples t-tests were conducted for two-group comparisons, and One-Way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc tests was used for multiple group comparisons. Regression analyses were performed to examine the predictive effects of partner phubbing on marital adjustment and relationship quality. Results: Younger participants, those without children, and those in shorter-duration relationships reported higher relationship satisfaction and marital adjustment, along with more frequent engagement in phubbing behaviors. Daily social media use was not significantly related to marital adjustment or relationship quality but was positively associated with phone-related preoccupation. Regression analyses revealed that partner phubbing negatively predicted perceived relationship quality (p = .00161), while marital adjustment positively predicted relationship quality (p < .0001). The model explained 49.42% of the variance in relationship quality. Differences among social media platforms were observed: Facebook users reported lower satisfaction compared to Instagram and Twitter users. Conclusion: Smartphone-related behaviors such as phubbing can challenge relationship dynamics, whereas strong marital adjustment may buffer these effects. Promoting mindful technology use and prioritizing emotional connection are important for sustaining healthy romantic relationships in increasingly digital environments.
