Study Links Parental Smartphone Use to Teen Attachment Issues

Researchers at Newport Healthcare published a study in *Frontiers in Psychology* showing that adolescents whose parents spend a lot of time on smartphones are more likely to exhibit anxious or avoidant attachment styles. The study surveyed 600 teens aged 12‑17 and created a scale to quantify attachment disruption caused by caregivers’ device use. Higher scores on this scale were strongly correlated with insecure attachment, which is associated with poorer mental health and relationship difficulties.

Dr. Don Grant, co‑author of the paper, warned that “children have even asked whether they love their phone more than their mother,” and emphasized that while attachment styles can change, mindful phone habits are advisable. The researchers note that the findings demonstrate a correlation, not proven causation, and call for parents to use phones more judiciously to support their children’s emotional development.