Research: 75% of women admit smartphones are ruining their relationships

Utah, USA: Are you addicted to your smartphone and feel lost without it? If so, it may be harming your relationship.

Research has found 75% of women in committed relationships feel that smartphones are interfering with their love life – by acting as a ‘third wheel’.

The study on the impact of technology, asked 143 women about whether smartphones are affecting their personal lives.

A whopping 75% said phones are affecting their relationship, while 62% said technology is reducing the amount of time they spend with their partner, leaving them feeling like they have to compete for attention.

One third of respondents said their boyfriend has looked at his smartphone while they were talking.

The poll - published in the journal Psychology of Popular Media Culture – was conducted by Brandon McDaniel of The Pennsylvania State University and Sarah Coyne of Brigman Young University in Utah.

Dr McDaniel said: “This is likely a circular process that people become trapped in where allowing technology to interfere, even in small ways, in one's relationship at least sometimes causes conflict, which can begin to slowly erode the quality of their relationship.”