'Phubbing' behavior linked to openness, extraversion and neuroticism in health care workers

A recent study published in the International Journal of Business Innovation and Research has found a link between certain personality traits and the behavior known as "phubbing." Phubbing refers to the act of ignoring someone in favor of using one's smartphone, especially in situations where face-to-face conversation would be expected.

The study, which involved 177 healthcare workers, aimed to determine whether phubbing was more prevalent in individuals with specific personality characteristics. The researchers assessed participants based on the Big Five personality traits – openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

The findings revealed that individuals scoring higher in openness, extraversion, and neuroticism were more likely to display phubbing behaviors. In contrast, those with higher levels of conscientiousness were less likely to engage in phubbing. Interestingly, the study did not find a significant association between phubbing and agreeableness.

The researchers suggest that understanding the connection between personality traits and phubbing could help organizations address problematic smartphone use without viewing all smartphone use as inherently harmful. By recognizing individual differences in smartphone behavior, organizations could potentially take targeted measures to mitigate the negative impacts of excessive phone use, such as psychological harm to either the phubber or the phubbed.