{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1849795,
        "msgid": "study-childrens-suffering-from-parents-frequent-phone-use-can-last-into-adulthood-1783587057",
        "date": "2026-07-09 14:35:00",
        "title": "Study: Children's Suffering from Parents' Frequent Phone Use Can Last into Adulthood",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNBC",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "New research indicates that parents who are frequently distracted by their smartphones risk causing long-term emotional damage to their children. The study, involving 600 adolescents, found that perceived parental 'phubbing' can lead to anxiety, fear of abandonment, and insecure attachment styles that persist into adulthood. Psychologists recommend establishing gadget-free zones and prioritising quality, undivided attention to mitigate these effects.",
        "content": "<p>Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia \u2013 Smartphones have become a daily necessity.\nHowever, parents\u2019 habit of being too absorbed in their phones while with\ntheir children turns out to have serious consequences. A recent study\nreported by technology site Gizmodo reveals that this attention\ndisruption can damage long-term emotional bonds and trigger attachment\nproblems in children as they grow into adulthood.<\/p>\n<p>The term researchers often use is \u2018phubbing\u2019 \u2013 the behaviour of\nignoring someone in person in favour of focusing on a screen. When\nparents constantly check notifications, scroll through social media, or\nreply to messages while playing, eating, or chatting with their child,\nthe message the child receives is: \u2018this phone is more important than\nyou\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology in June\n2026, involved 600 adolescents aged 12-17. The results showed that\nchildren who frequently felt they were competing with their parents\u2019\nphones had a far higher risk of relationship problems. They tend to\nexperience excessive anxiety, fear of abandonment, or withdraw\nemotionally because they feel unheard.<\/p>\n<p>Why Does This Have Long-Term Effects?<\/p>\n<p>A strong emotional bond in early childhood is the primary foundation\nof a child\u2019s mental health. When the need for attention and warm\nresponses is not consistently met:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><p>Toddler age: Children often react with anger, excessive crying,\nor become quiet and resigned from the exhaustion of trying to get\nattention<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>School age: They become more easily restless, struggle to\nconcentrate, and risk imitating gadget habits to fill the emotional\nvoid<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Adulthood: They have difficulty building trust, forming healthy\nrelationships, and are more vulnerable to stress and insecurity<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u2018The impact does not come from the phone itself, but from the feeling\nof being repeatedly ignored that the child experiences. Over time, they\nlearn that a parent\u2019s presence cannot be fully relied upon,\u2019 the\nresearch team explained.<\/p>\n<p>Other research has also found that even a 10-20 minute drop in\nparental responsiveness is enough to drastically change the atmosphere\nof an interaction. Children who are usually eager to share stories will\nstop talking, and their self-confidence gradually declines.<\/p>\n<p>Even when parents intend it to be \u2018just for a moment\u2019, that duration\nfeels very long to a child. Their brains are in a sensitive period,\ndesperately needing eye contact, touch, and direct conversation to build\na stable emotional system.<\/p>\n<p>Simple but Effective Solutions<\/p>\n<p>Psychologists recommend practical steps so that gadgets remain a\nhelpful tool rather than a relationship destroyer:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><p>Set up device-free zones. During meals, before bedtime, or when\ngathering together, keep phones out of reach<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Use screen time limit features. Configure notifications so they\ndo not disturb family time<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Quality over quantity. Thirty minutes of full attention is better\nthan two hours together but with eyes constantly glued to a\nscreen<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Set an example. If you want your child not to be addicted to\ngadgets, show that life can run well without constantly holding\none<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/study-childrens-suffering-from-parents-frequent-phone-use-can-last-into-adulthood-1783587057",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}