Individuals who perceive that colleagues prefer to scroll on their mobile phones during breaks rather than socialise rate their psychosocial work environment as poorer than others do. This is shown in a doctoral thesis from the University of Gothenburg.

Research has shown that mobile phone scrolling can impair relationships. For example, many people feel that the quality of conversations deteriorates when phones are used at the same time. However, few studies have examined how relationships between co-workers are affected. In his doctoral thesis, psychologist Per Martinsson has therefore investigated what happens when mobile phones displace social interaction during breaks. The studies were based on the concept of phubbing, derived from “phone snubbing”, which refers to prioritising one’s phone over people who are physically present.

Mobile phones often perceived as a barrier

The results of 25 interviews with electricians and healthcare professionals show that mobile phones are often perceived as a social barrier that leads to less socialising and conversation during breaks. Phones are also used as a way of withdrawing from social interaction, which may stem from a need for recovery.

The results of two survey studies involving a total of approximately 1,700 working adults show that those who perceive more phubbing from their co-workers also report a poorer psychosocial work environment in terms of emotional and practical support, trust, sense of community, and engagement in their work and organisation.

“It is interesting that one’s own mobile phone use does not appear to be associated with these factors, but what others do may play a role,” says Per Martinsson.

The findings from the two quantitative sub-studies, one among electricians and one based on a broad sample of working adults in Sweden, both indicate a negative association. However, no evidence was found that mobile phone use drove a deterioration in the work environment over a one-year period, and further research is needed to clarify the causal relationships.

Mobile phone scrolling at work also appears, to some extent, to be a generational issue. Younger employees use their phones more during breaks and are also more likely to consider it acceptable for others to use their phones. Several interview participants emphasised that mobile phone use during breaks is not solely negative; phones are sometimes incorporated into social interaction, for example when searching for information or looking at pictures and videos together.

“Since norms and expectations differ between groups, an important skill is being able to read the situation, understanding how and when it is socially acceptable to use one’s phone, and in which situations it may be perceived as excluding others,” says Per Martinsson.

“These findings shouldn’t be taken to mean that more rules are needed or that staff must put their phones away during breaks. Rather, I hope my findings will encourage reflection and discussion about this issue in the workplace. We can talk about how we want things to be and how we can create a good work environment together,” says Per Martinsson.

More information about the thesis:

• The thesis will be defended on 13 March 2026
• Title of the thesis: Coworker phubbing: Smartphone use during work breaks and the psychosocial work environment Link to the thesis: https://hdl.handle.net/2077/90500
• The thesis comprises one interview study and two survey studies. Twenty-five individual interviews were conducted with electricians and healthcare professionals. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes in the interviews. One survey study targeted electricians and was completed by approximately 800 respondents. The second survey was distributed to a representative sample of the working population in Sweden via the SOM Institute and was completed by just under 900 respondents. In total, approximately 1,700 people participated in the survey studies.