6 Things You Need To Know About Phubbing aka Phone Snubbing

According to a study conducted by researchers at the Renmin University of China, couples who had been married for more than seven years who were being phubbed by their partner were more likely to report being depressed. However, researchers noted that this effect was indirect: phubbing lead to decreased relationship satisfaction, and this decrease in relationship satisfaction is what caused the higher reported depression scores.

According to the abstract from the Baylor University study: "One's attachment style was found to moderate the Pphubbing — cell phone conflict relationship. Those with anxious attachment styles reported higher levels of cell phone conflict than those with less anxious attachment styles."

So if you're one of the 20 percent of people with an anxious attachment style, you might be more negatively impacted by a partner who engages in phubbing — because it will feel more like a personal rejection than just a mildly irritating habit — which could, in turn, cause more conflict in your relationship.

Have you ever found yourself so absorbed in what's on your phone that you're hardly aware of what's going on around you? "A good sign [of phubbing] is that when people are talking to you, you often can’t remember what they even told you and are forced to give fake answers or ask them to repeat themselves," Bennett says.

If this sounds like you in most social situations, there's a good chance that your phubbing behavior is super noticeable — and probably irritating your friends or romantic partner.

Nowadays, we're all so accustomed to having our phones in our hands that we might not even realize when our phone use is crossing an invisible boundary — going from normal Millennial behavior to being neglectful of those around you.

"[Phubbing] can hinder rapport building with other people," Bennett says. "You might think you’re giving the other person enough attention, but no one wants to take second place to an electronic device."

When you're out in public and can't be bothered to look up from your phone, you're likely to miss out on opportunities to connect with people IRL and practice important communication and social skills.

"You lose valuable people skills [when phubbing]," Chad Elliot, a confidence and communication coach, tells Bustle. "When important social opportunities arise, you're more likely to make an irreversible mistake because of poor habits."

FOMO is a very real thing, so it's understandable to feel attached to your phone and always want to be plugged in to what's happening with those who you aren't physically around. But if you want to ease your phone-related anxiety and focus on spending quality time with those you're actually with, it's worthwhile to put away your phone every now and then.

"Learn to practice mindfulness," Bennett suggests. "Find joy in the present moment instead of always needing to distract yourself with your phone. If you start to get anxious, take a few deep breaths, focus on your breathing, and reorient your mind to your present experience, rather than your anxiety about your phone."

You don't have to totally abandon your phone to break your phubbing habits, but being mindful of how you're using your phone can make a huge difference. If you're willing to take a mini digital detox and put your phone away when you're around friends, family, and your partner, you'll probably find that all your relationships improve and you're better able to enjoy the moment you're in IRL.