A Sociological study of the Relationship between Smartphone Addiction and Phubbing Case Study18-29 Year Old Females of Ramhormoz City

In recent years, along with the digital transition and the increase of smart phone users, phubbing, as an emerging phenomenon, has drawn the attention of scholars and experts. Phubbing, which means ignoring others while using a mobile phone, overshadows the quality of social relationships, social skills, well-being and marital satisfaction of the females. In this regard, the results of a survey known as "Survey 2000" showed that the long-term use of mobile phones and addiction to it affects the social relations and decreases the attendance of person at family gatherings. It finally leads to depression. The mentioned concept refers to the people's excessive use of mobile phones, instead of having interpersonal interaction with other people in a social context. According to the thinkers, like Karadag et al. (2015), phubbing has become a normal issue in the modern era, while it damages the interpersonal relationships and creates some feelings and reactions among unloved or rejected people. Reviewing the results of studies conducted in different countries, especially Franchina et al. (2018), Nazir & Bulut (2019), shows that phubbing has a significant relationship with social media addiction. Despite the increased use of social networks among young females and its effects on individuals, groups, families and society, the impact of smart phone addiction on the phubbing behavior of women in Ramhormoz city has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the main goal of the current research is to investigate the sociological relationship between smart phone addiction and women's phubbing behaviors.
 
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Keywords




Phubbing, Mobile phone Addiction, Daily Life Disturbance, Positive Prediction,  Ramhormoz City
 
‌Introduction
In recent years, along with the digital transition and the increase of smart phone users, phubbing, as an emerging phenomenon, has drawn the attention of scholars and experts. Phubbing, which means ignoring others while using a mobile phone, overshadows the quality of social relationships, social skills, well-being and marital satisfaction of the females. In this regard, the results of a survey known as "Survey 2000" showed that the long-term use of mobile phones and addiction to it affects the social relations and decreases the attendance of person at family gatherings. It finally leads to depression. The mentioned concept refers to the people's excessive use of mobile phones, instead of having interpersonal interaction with other people in a social context. According to the thinkers, like Karadag et al. (2015), phubbing has become a normal issue in the modern era, while it damages the interpersonal relationships and creates some feelings and reactions among unloved or rejected people. Reviewing the results of studies conducted in different countries, especially Franchina et al. (2018), Nazir & Bulut (2019), shows that phubbing has a significant relationship with social media addiction. Despite the increased use of social networks among young females and its effects on individuals, groups, families and society, the impact of smart phone addiction on the phubbing behavior of women in Ramhormoz city has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the main goal of the current research is to investigate the sociological relationship between smart phone addiction and women's phubbing behaviors.
 
Methodology
The present research method is a survey. The statistical population of the current research includes all women aged 18 to 29 in Ramhormoz city. Using Cochran's formula and the cluster sampling method, 370 people were selected as the study sample. The research data were collected using a questionnaire. In this research, Creswell (2013) and Smart Phone Addiction Scale by Kwon (2012) questionnaire were used to measure the research variables. In this research, the collected data were analyzed using Amos Graphics and Spss19 software.
 
Findings
The research findings showed that there is a significant and direct relationship between smart phone addiction and phubbing behavior (Sig=0.000). The intensity of correlation between the variables of smart phone addiction and phubbing behavior is high (0.796). That is, any increase in the rate of mobile phone addiction leads to high rate of phubbing behavior among the studied women, vice versa. The results of the regression analysis showed that 64% of the changes in the dependent variable are explained by the model variables (i.e. positive prediction, confusion of daily life and excessive use of mobile phones). Therefore, based on the findings of the research, it can be said that smart phone addiction plays an important role in the prevalence of phubbing behavior among the young women in Ramhormoz city.
 
Result
The main goal of the current research is to sociologically investigate the relationship between mobile phone addiction and the phubbing behavior of 18 to 29 year old females in Ramherz city. Phubbing means ignoring others while using a mobile phone. It has affected the social relationships of men and women, marital satisfaction and even the quality of friendship, and has challenged the social and mental health indicators. The results of the present study showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between mobile phone addiction and phubbing behavior. That is, with the increase in mobile phone addiction, the phubbing behavior of 18 to 29 year old women in Ramhormoz city increases accordingly and vice versa. In this regard, Hopper and Yuzhu believe that human behavior is affected by biological, psychological, social and cultural factors. They state that a behavior starts voluntarily but eventually becomes obsessive. Phubbing has the ability to start in a forced and binding way but continue as a dependent behavior. In their opinion, the use of mobile phone has also the ability to be an addictive, obsessive, dependent, habitual, compulsory or voluntary behavior and lead to phubbing behavior. Therefore, the aforementioned theory is consistent with the findings of the present study. The results of step-by-step regression analysis showed that 64% of the changes in the phubbing behavior of Ramhormoz city women are explained by the model variables, including positive prediction, daily life confusion and excessive use of mobile phones. The results of Dawi et al. (2018), Latifeh et al. (2019), Yam et al. (2020), Benunotti et al (2020), Rachmen et al. (2021), Isrofin& Menowre (2024), Shiramini (2023), and Basereh et al. (2022) were consistent with the research findings. Therefore, it can be said that they can be used in the studied population. Finally, based on the research findings, the followings are suggested: 1. In order to reduce the mobile phone addiction and the phubbing behavior among the young women of Ramhormoz city, they should be informed about the effects and consequences of mobile phone addiction and phubbing behavior through the media and social networks. 2. It is better to prevent the spread of this behavior by efficient planning of the women's leisure time and their sports. It needs the collaboration of the sports and youth organization, women's affairs and also the other responsible institutions 3. Holding workshops on digital literacy with the aim of preventing phubbing can help reduce the problem rate. 4. Revival of the local games, especially for women in Ramhormoz city, considering the historical and cultural heritage, strengthening the social-cultural participation of women, developing face-to-face relationships of women in neighborhoods and supporting the women's employment can help prevent this problem.
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