Evaluation of phubbing online social support and trait anxiety in nurses

Abstract

Aim: This study investigated the relationship between phubbing, online social support, trait anxiety, and some demographic factors among nurses. Background: Phubbing, or socializing through online smartphone applications, has become increasingly prevalent in healthcare environments, potentially threatening real-life interactions. We aimed to explore the use of smartphones among nurses, both professionally and socially, and to determine if increased usage was leading to interaction problems. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a digital survey completed by 384 nurses between May and November 2021. The survey included an individual descriptive form, the generic scale of phubbing, the online social support scale, and the trait anxiety inventory. Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H, t test, Pearson, and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient were used for analysis. A backward selection method regression analysis was performed to determine the variables affecting the phubbing score. The “STROBE checklist” for cross-sectional studies was utilized in order to report the findings of the study. Results: The participants had a moderate level of trait anxiety. The study found that marital status, having WhatsApp groups with teammates, and being warned about phone use from teammates were significantly related to phubbing. A moderate positive correlation was found between the phubbing score and the online social support score. Additionally, a weak positive correlation was found between the general phubbing and trait anxiety scores. Conclusions: Perceived online social support significantly influenced the phubbing behavior of nurses and trait anxiety played a mediating role in this relationship. Implications for nursing and policy: Nurses frequently use smartphones for professional purposes, but this study found that excessive phone use can be detrimental to their social interactions. Moreover, phubbing could also be problematic for patients. Therefore, healthcare professionals need to be aware of the potential consequences of smartphone usage and the importance of limiting excessive use during patient care. © 2023 The Authors. International Nursing Review published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Council of Nurses.