The Effect of Mobile Phone Use in Co-present Situations on Impression Formation and Relationship Quality

Recently, public concerns have risen over the impact of mobile communication technology use during offline conversations (also known as ‘phubbing’) on relational outcomes. This paper presents two experimental studies that address these concerns. In a first study we examined the impact of phubbing on the impression that people form of the phubber’s politeness, attentiveness and popularity. The findings of the experiment revealed a significant negative impact of phubbing on each of these attributes. Whether the phubbing behavior was self-initiated or occurred in response to a notification did not moderate these relationships. In a second study we examined the impact of phubbing on the conversation partner’s perceived conversation quality, social attraction and relationship quality. Perceived conversation quality was negatively affected by phubbing behavior, while perceived social attraction and relationship quality were not. Whether conversation partners were acquainted or not, did not moderate the impact of phubbing on these relational outcomes.