Cell Phones Are Damaging Relationships

It's an action called 'Phubbing' and your relationship could be next.

It's not a far leap to connect the dots between answeing a cell phone in front of your significant other, and the ruination of one's romantic relationship.

In fact, a new study by Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business shows that act can even lead to depression.

Researchers surveyed 453 American adults to learn about 'Phubbing', or 'partner phone snubbing'. This is the act of being distracted by one's cell phone while with your significant other.

Acccording to the study's authors, there is a 'Partner Phubbing Scale' that includes the following actions:

• My partner places his or her cellphone where they can see it when we are together
• My partner keeps his or her cellphone in their hand when he or she is with me
• My partner glances at his/her cellphone when talking to me
• If there is a lull in our conversation, my partner will check his or her cellphone

After the data was analyzed, here's what was found:

Just under half (46.3 percent) of the respondents reported being phubbed by their partner. Nearly a quarter (22.6 percent) said phubbing caused conflict in their relationships. And more than a third (36.6 percent) reported feeling depressed at least some of the time. Overall, less than a third of respondents (32 percent) said they were very satisfied with their relationship, the researchers said.

Think about your cellphone use. Are you guilty of 'Phubbing'?