Impact of Phubbing and FOMO on Cognitive Overload in Married Couples

Abstract

This quantitative research examines the psychological and relational effects of phubbing—the act of neglecting one’s partner in favor of mobile phone usage—and the fear of missing out (FOMO) on cognitive overload among married couples. It was hypothesized based on cognitive load theory and relational psychology and tested with correlation, multiple regressions. The sample was formed to include 200 married people with legal marriage partners who were between the ages of 21 and 55 years and lived with the spouse as well as being avoid smartphone users. The duration of marriage varied from 1 to 40 years. Participants who were undergoing divorce or separation, or who had been diagnosed with psychological or neurological disorders, were excluded to ensure the integrity of the sample. The findings indicated a strong positive correlation between FOMO and phubbing, thereby supporting Hypothesis 1. Regression analysis confirmed that both FOMO and phubbing were significant predictors of cognitive overload, thus validating Hypothesis 2. These findings underscore the cognitive and emotional repercussions of digital behaviors within marital relationships, highlighting the necessity for mindful technology use in intimate environments. Limitations include dependence on self-reported data, a gender-imbalanced sample, and a cross-sectional design, which limits causal inference. Future studies should explore longitudinal methods and more diverse samples to enhance the understanding of digital disruptions in relational contexts.