How can I put down my phone: the different roles of personal growth initiative and self-discipline in a parental phubbing environment

The results suggested that personal growth initiative not only positively predicted reflective smartphone disengagement, but also indirectly through the mediating effect of self-discipline. Moreover, parental phubbing weakened the positive effects of personal growth initiative on reflective smartphone disengagement and self-discipline but enhanced the positive effects of self-discipline on reflective smartphone disengagement.

The research findings indicate that while parental phubbing negatively impacts children’s personal growth initiative, fostering self-discipline can still enable them to develop more positive and healthy smartphone usage habits, even in challenging family environments.