The association of technoference and parent-adolescent conflict about smartphone use with the well-being of adolescents

Technoference is usually defined as interruptions of face-to-face interactions due to mobile phone use. This study aimed to examine the association between technoference in parent-adolescent interactions due to parents’ smartphone use, parent-adolescent conflict about adolescents’ smartphone use, and adolescents’ well-being. The sample comprised 282 children (60% are girls) aged 10 to 15 years and one of their parents. Adolescents rated their life satisfaction and positive and negative affect, and parents assessed technoference in parent-adolescent interactions on a newly developed measure. Adolescents and parents reported conflicts about adolescents’ smartphone use on a newly developed measure. The results show that higher technoference is associated with parents’ estimates of higher incidences of parent-adolescent conflict about the adolescent’s time of smartphone use. Adolescents’ estimates of higher incidences of parent-adolescent conflict over the time adolescents use smartphones and the content they consume, but not technoference are related to adolescents’ lower life satisfaction and higher negative affect. The findings point to the importance of technoference for conflict in parent-adolescent interactions and of such conflict for adolescents’ well-being.