Project Title
Technological Distraction in Personal Relationships in Two Cultures
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Dr. Tsi-Ming Chiang
Abstract
The increasing presence and reliance on mobile phones and portable devices have impacted social relationships and connections (Huber, 2021). Allowing mobile devices in spaces preserved for interactions, like mealtimes with family and loved ones, has opened doors for distraction. It may severely impact personal relationships in the development of healthy attachment (Huber, 2021; McDaniel, 2020; Gaudreau et al., 2022). Furthermore, young married adults perceive technology to play significant roles in their relationship issues. It showed partners tend to spend similar lengths of time on their devices despite boundaries and restrictions set on phone usage (Vaterlaus et. al, 2020). Thus, the purpose of this project was to compare the frequency of phone usage to understand the implications of technological distraction in interpersonal relationships in two cultures, especially contrasting the American culture. In a study abroad program, the researcher examined the phone usage at the table by Italians sharing meals through naturalistic observations. The same data collection process is in progress in the United States. Based on how the Italians value family time and meals, the study expects to find less usage of phones during mealtimes in Italy compared to the US sample. Overall, the Italian results showed tables observed had little presence of phones and, therefore, less technological distraction. Technology usage is being discussed relating to issues in interpersonal relationships, such as eating disorders in adolescents, attachment in families and couples, and other measures. The detailed results of both samples and the implications will be discussed at the conference.
Technological Distraction in Personal Relationships in Two Cultures
The increasing presence and reliance on mobile phones and portable devices have impacted social relationships and connections (Huber, 2021). Allowing mobile devices in spaces preserved for interactions, like mealtimes with family and loved ones, has opened doors for distraction. It may severely impact personal relationships in the development of healthy attachment (Huber, 2021; McDaniel, 2020; Gaudreau et al., 2022). Furthermore, young married adults perceive technology to play significant roles in their relationship issues. It showed partners tend to spend similar lengths of time on their devices despite boundaries and restrictions set on phone usage (Vaterlaus et. al, 2020). Thus, the purpose of this project was to compare the frequency of phone usage to understand the implications of technological distraction in interpersonal relationships in two cultures, especially contrasting the American culture. In a study abroad program, the researcher examined the phone usage at the table by Italians sharing meals through naturalistic observations. The same data collection process is in progress in the United States. Based on how the Italians value family time and meals, the study expects to find less usage of phones during mealtimes in Italy compared to the US sample. Overall, the Italian results showed tables observed had little presence of phones and, therefore, less technological distraction. Technology usage is being discussed relating to issues in interpersonal relationships, such as eating disorders in adolescents, attachment in families and couples, and other measures. The detailed results of both samples and the implications will be discussed at the conference.