Technology use during couples’ bedtime routines, bedtime satisfaction, and associations with individual and relational well-being

Abstract

In this study, we examined the typical and ideal bedtime routines of 289 Americans in cohabiting relationships who were recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Participants described their bedtime routines, indicated their frequency of sex with their partner, and completed surveys measuring their bedtime, sexual, relationship, and life satisfaction. There were some incongruencies between ideal and typical scenarios, with joint activities (both technological and non-technological) featured more often in the ideal scenarios, and more time alone featured in typical scenarios. Incongruence between the presence of physical intimacy in ideal and typical scenarios was predictive of bedtime satisfaction, as were the presence of emotional intimacy, going to bed together, and shared technology use (e.g., watching television together) during their typical time together. In turn, bedtime satisfaction predicted frequency of sex, and sexual, relationship, and life satisfaction. However, shared time together not engaged in technology and time apart (using technology or not) was not predictive of bedtime satisfaction. As bedtime is an opportunity for leisure together for many couples, going to bed together and engaging in activities that promote emotional intimacy (e.g., conversations) may be beneficial to couples. Additionally, discussions and compromise related to the presence of physical intimacy at bedtime may help couples experience greater bedtime satisfaction. Finally, in contrast to suggestions that technology use has a negative effect on relationships, shared technology use before bed may have a positive impact on individual and relational well-being.

Digital social multitasking (DSMT), digital stress, and socioemotional wellbeing among adolescents

“…Research of co-present phone use in couple relationships has revealed that when romantic partners spend time together, they often show one another what they see and do on the phone, and such shared phone use is viewed as a positive experience (Kelly et al, 2017). Although McDaniel et al (2021) noted that the positive relational implications of shared technology use were not robust, Drouin and McDaniel (2021) found consistent positive associations between shared technology use and various forms of satisfaction in couple relationships. Benefits have also been identified in adolescent friendships-using computers with friends predicts better friendship quality, likely because it provides opportunities for social exchanges and self-disclosure (Desjarlais & Willoughby, 2010).…”

Motives for digital social multitasking (DSMT) and problematic phone use among adolescents

“…It appears that when adolescents have a social goal for digital social multitasking, phone use becomes a complement, rather than a distraction, of the face‐to‐face interaction. Indeed, copresent technology use can be an enjoyable experience and a relationship facilitator when the copresent individuals use the technology together or engage each other in the use (Drouin & McDaniel, 2021; Kelly et al, 2017). It is plausible that when adolescents are motivated to perform digital social multitasking for social reasons, they involve each other in the phone‐based activity (e.g., C. Yang & Christofferson, 2020); the focus is the connection rather than the phone, making problematic use less of a concern.…”

Relationship difficulties and “technoference” during the COVID-19 pandemic

“… McDaniel & Drouin, 2019 ), highlighting its negative influence on relationship quality, little is known about its antecedents (and, to our knowledge, if it has done so, it has mainly used one-time assessments; e.g. Drouin & McDaniel, 2021 ). Our work takes the wider context into consideration, highlighting how outside factors — those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic — are related to greater technology use.…”