According to a sample of roughly 2,000 married couples (18 to 55 years of age), over one-third (37%) of married Americans report their spouse is frequently connected to the screen or on the phone when the other would prefer to be doing something as a couple. Isolating by income levels, the figure jumps to 44% for lower-income couples while it drops to 31% for higher-income couples.
In general, younger couples (18 to 34 years of age) are distracted more by their phones than older couples (35 to 55 years of age). Married adults without a college degree are also more likely to report spousal distraction with the phone compared to married adults with a college degree (39% vs. 34%). In regards to politics and religion, the study did not find a statistically significant difference between liberals and conservatives or those who attend church regularly versus those who do not.
Marital Quality
When phone use becomes excessive frustration grows. Those couples who are dealing with excessive phone use are frequently less happy in their marriage. Of those married adults whose spouse is often on the phone, only 6 in 10 report that they are “very happy.” Compare this to couples who do not report excessive phone usage and 81% are pleased with their marriage.
In general, excessive tech use is linked to lower marital happiness. Over a quarter of couples who recognize the lack of control they have over their phone use report that their marriages will likely end in a divorce in the near future.
More Phone can Equate to Less Sex
It’s a sad statement, but the data doesn’t lie. Of those couples with a phone problem, 44% engage in sexual activities once a week (or more), and 23% report they have not had sex in the past 12 months. The study also found that heavy phone use is positively associated with less dating. Regular date nights are good for happier marriages, and nearly 60% of couples with a phone problem either do not have date nights or go out on dates just a handful of times per year.
The study’s authors do concede that the evidence of excessive phone use alone cannot predict an unhappy marriage. It might be that the addiction to the phone is a result of an already-unhappy marriage. Spouses who are unhappy can easily resort to using the phone as a coping mechanism. Moreover, smartphones are designed to be addictive.
