Parents' Smartphone Use Linked to Insecure Attachment in Teens, Study Finds

A study of 600 American adolescents published in Frontiers found that frequent parental smartphone use during interactions is associated with higher levels of insecure attachment, including anxious and avoidant styles, and related emotional difficulties in teens. Researchers used a Device Attachment Interference Scale to measure perceived parental distraction and warned that these attachment patterns can persist into adulthood, affecting mental health and relationship stability.

Separately, a systematic analysis by British researchers highlighted that children under two years old should have no intentional exposure to televisions, smartphones, or tablets. The report calls for revised guidelines on screen time for the youngest children, emphasizing potential developmental harms. Both pieces underscore growing concerns about digital device exposure on child and adolescent wellbeing.