The mediator role of effective communication skills on the relationship between phubbing tendencies and marriage satisfaction in married individuals

The aim of this research is to examine the mediator role of communication skills on the relationship between phubbing tendencies and marital satisfaction of married individuals. The sample of the study consisted of 712 adult married individuals from some cities in the Central Anatolian region of Turkey. 347 (48.7%) of the participants were female and 365 (51.3%) were male. The average age of the participants is 37.45. Marriage Satisfaction Scale, Phubbing Scale and Effective Communication Skills Scale were used as data collection tools. Pearson Correlation Analysis and Multiple mediation analysis (SPSS PROCESS macro (version 3.5-model 4)) techniques were used in the analysis of the data. There were significant negative correlation between the sub-dimensions of communication skills (ego-developing language, effective listening, self revelation, empathy, I-language) and phubbing; they were also found to be significantly positively correlated with marital satisfaction. Analysis results showed that phubbing significantly and negatively predicted marital satisfaction, and when effective communication skills were included in the analysis, the relationship between these two variables became nonsense. This result shows that communication skills are a full mediator on the relationship between phubbing and marital satisfaction in married individuals. •The sub-dimensions of effective communication skills are significantly negatively correlated phubbing.•Effective communication skills have a significant positive correlation with marital satisfaction.•Effective communication skills are full mediator on the relationship between phubbing and marital satisfaction.