A romantic relationship serves as a wellspring of love and affection, providing essential emotional support. It transforms into a sanctuary when the appropriate psychological needs are fulfilled. However, what occurs when these needs are not satisfied? An emotional void emerges.

What then becomes of this void? A distorted sense of fulfilment drives individuals who feel unfulfilled to seek solace in social media. This becomes a feeble attempt to fill the emotional gap, offering temporary distractions while neglecting the fundamental emotional requirements.

According to a study published in Frontiers in Psychology, the absence of these psychological needs in romantic partnerships can lead to addictive behaviours, such as social media addiction, as well as maladaptive behaviours like phubbing, where individuals prioritize their smartphones over direct interpersonal communication.

Social media addiction and phubbing

There exists an expectation that a romantic relationship will offer comfort and a sense of belonging. A significant portion of emotional well-being is derived from interpersonal connections. However, when a partner fails to reciprocate the anticipated affection, it creates an emotional void. The study indicated that many individuals turn to social media in search of comfort and solace, often developing an addiction in the process. This absence of love compels them to engage with social media, which can escalate into an addiction characterized by behaviours such as phubbing, or ignoring their partner in favour of their devices.

The research involved 958 young adults from Türkiye, aged 17 to 29, who provided insights into their relationships, smartphone usage, and overall satisfaction with their partners. The results demonstrated a distinct correlation: individuals who experienced emotional dissatisfaction were more likely to shift their focus to smartphones during face-to-face interactions.

This creates a cyclical pattern; as one becomes increasingly dependent on social media and digital devices, they tend to prioritize these devices over their partners. Such behaviours reinforce one another.

The superficial activities of doom-scrolling, liking, and commenting create a false sense of connection that is often lacking in their relationships.

Influence on relationship satisfaction

The impact of this phenomenon is mutual, influencing both parties within the relationship, as indicated by the findings. When phubbing and social media take precedence, an emotional gap emerges between partners. This dynamic diminishes intimacy and hampers effective communication. As smartphones consume a significant portion of quality time, both individuals may feel overlooked and undervalued, leading to decreased satisfaction. Consequently, when individuals place their devices above their relationships, it exacerbates the emotional rift.

Therefore, if there are unmet emotional expectations or needs within the relationship, it is crucial to engage in open dialogue rather than suppressing feelings and turning to distractions such as social media. This approach only serves to widen the existing distance and disconnection.

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