Technology is taking its toll in the bedroom, according to research by psychologist Sarah Coyne, PhD, psychology professor at Brigham Young University, and Brandon McDaniel, a psychology graduate student at Pennsylvania State University. They found that "technoference," or the everyday intrusions or interruptions in couple interactions or time spent together that occur due to technology, is hurting relationships (Psychology of Popular Media Culture, online Dec. 1opens in new window).
Coyne and McDaniel surveyed 143 women in committed relationships about how often smartphones, tablets and computers interrupted daily interactions with their husbands or partners. About 70 percent of the women said that technology interfered in their relationship with their partner at least sometimes or often, and about a quarter said their partners actively texted others during the couple's face-to-face conversations.
Moreover, women who reported more technoference in their couple relationship also reported more conflict over technology use, lower relationship satisfaction, more depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction.
"Many of these interruptions are likely unintentional or unconsciously done, but can still send a message that the technology device is more important in that moment than one's romantic partner," McDaniel says. "If this happens frequently, the relationship can really suffer."
— Amy Novotney