Phubbing behavior, personality, and use of instagram by Brazilian adults: a correlational and predictive study

Phubbing behavior is a phenomenon that consists in ignoring people in situations of social interaction whilst paying attention to one's smartphone. The study of this behavior enables reflection on the development of healthy behavior patterns when using technology and the design of intervention strategies to cope with phubbing behavior. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between phubbing behavior, use of Instagram, personality traits (Big Five), and sociodemographic variables (gender, education, and age) among Brazilian adults. This was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 1551 adults (61.7% women; 29.9% men), aged between 18 and 76 years (M = 31.6 years; SD = 9.6 years). The results of the correlation analysis indicated that excessive use of Instagram showed a high, positive association ρ (1551) = 0.442 with Phubbing Behavior and a moderate one with neuroticism ρ (1551) = 0.272. Phubbing behavior was positively and moderately with neuroticism ρ (1551) = 0.290, but it had a weak, negative correlation with age ρ (1551) = -0.117; p < 0.001. Multiple linear regression analysis (forward method) indicated that the variables that most strongly impacted Phubbing Behavior were neuroticism (ΔR2 = .236), conscientiousness (ΔR2 = .244) and use of Instagram (ΔR2 = .204). This result indicates that conscientiousness may have a predictive potential to decrease phubbing behavior, whereas neuroticism and use of Instagram may lead to increased phubbing. Multivariate Analysis of Variance indicated that excessive use of Instagram registered higher scores for women (M = 11.48; SD = 0.21) than for men (M = 9.45; SD = 0.27, p < 0.001). It was concluded that while conscientiousness can function as a protective factor for the development of phubbing behavior, high levels of neuroticism and excessive use of Instagram have greater potential to act as risk factors for it. In addition, neuroticism is also a risk factor for excessive use of Instagram, and women are more prone to such overuse. (AU)

Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Evidence of the Phubbing Scale / Adaptação Cultural e Evidências Psicométricas da Escala de Phubbing / Adaptación Cultural y Evidencia Psicométrica de la Escala de Phubbing

Abstract Phubbing, the act of ignoring people during a face-to-face interaction to dedicate attention to the smartphone, is a phenomenon widely observed in today's society. Therefore, this research aimed to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation of the Phubbing Scale to Brazilian Portuguese and examine its psychometric properties. The study included 1,551 Brazilian adults, 61.7% female and 29.9% male, aged from 18 to 76 years (M = 31.6 years; SD = 9.6 years). A socio-demographic questionnaire and the Phubbing Scale were used. Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Network Analysis and Mann-Whitney Test were performed. The results confirmed the bifactorial version of the Phubbing Scale with good fit indices (CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.99; α = 0.83). The Phubbing Scale showed adequate psychometric properties and internal consistency for use in Brazil.

Resumo Comportamento de Phubbing, ato de ignorar as pessoas durante uma interação presencial para dedicar atenção ao smartphone, é um fenômeno amplamente observado na sociedade atual. Diante disto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi realizar a adaptação transcultural da Escala de Phubbing para a população brasileira e examinar suas propriedades psicométricas. Participaram da pesquisa 1.551 adultos brasileiros, sendo 61,7 % do sexo feminino e 29,9% do sexo masculino, com idades entre 18 e 76 anos (M = 31,6 anos; DP = 9,6 anos). Foram utilizados o questionário sociodemográfico e a Escala de Phubbing. Foram realizadas Análise Fatorial Exploratória, Análise Fatorial Confirmatória, Análise de Rede e Teste de Mann-Whitney. Os resultados confirmaram a versão bifatorial da Escala de Phubbing com bons índices de ajustes (CFI = 0,99; TLI = 0,99; α = 0,83). A Escala de Phubbing apresentou propriedades psicométricas e consistência interna adequadas para utilização no contexto brasileiro.

Resumen El Comportamiento de Phubbing, el acto de ignorar a las personas durante una interacción cara a cara para dedicar su atención al teléfono inteligente, es un fenómeno ampliamente observado en la sociedad actual, por tanto, el objetivo de esta investigación fue realizar la adaptación transcultural de la Escala Phubbing al portugués brasileño y examinar sus propiedades psicométricas. Un total de 1551 adultos brasileños participaron en la encuesta, 61,7% mujeres y 29,9% hombres, con edades entre 18 y 76 años (M = 31,6 años; SD = 9,6 años). Se utilizó el cuestionario sociodemográfico y la Escala de Phubbing. Se realizaron Análisis Factorial Exploratorio, Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio, Análisis de Redes y Prueba de Mann-Whitney. Los resultados confirmaron la versión bifactorial de la Escala de Phubbing con buenos índices de ajuste (CFI = 0,99; TLI = 0,99; α = 0,83). La Escala de Phubbing mostró propiedades psicométricas y consistencia interna adecuadas para su uso en el contexto brasileño.