Excessive smartphone use by parents can harm children's emotional and psychological development, according to research surveying 600 U.S. adolescents aged 12 to 17. Teens reported feeling ignored or sidelined when their parents were absorbed in their phones.
This behavior may foster insecure attachment, increasing the risk of relationship difficulties, reduced self-confidence, low self-esteem, anxiety, and avoidant behaviors in young people. The constant distraction signals to children that they are less important than digital devices, undermining the secure emotional bonds necessary for healthy psychological growth.
