Front. Psychol., 18 June 2026 – A study published in Frontiers in Psychology on June 18, 2026 found that adolescents who perceive their caregivers as frequently distracted by devices score higher on the Device Attachment Interference Scale (DAIS) and report greater insecure attachment to those caregivers. The research addressed a gap in the literature on technoference and phubbing within parent‑child relationships, where prior work has focused on romantic and peer interactions. Investigators validated the DAIS with 600 U.S. adolescents aged 12‑17 recruited online in August 2025, confirming a unidimensional factor structure using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Higher DAIS scores were associated with both anxious and avoidant attachment to mother‑like and father‑like figures after controlling for age and gender. The sample showed diverse demographic representation, with 75.5% identifying as White and other groups represented in smaller proportions. The study employed a cross‑sectional design, preventing causal inference, and relied on self‑report measures that may overlap with attachment constructs. Limitations include the single‑time‑point assessment, lack of longitudinal data, and insufficient sample size for measurement invariance testing across caregiver roles. The authors suggest future longitudinal and multi‑informant research to clarify directionality and examine whether reducing caregiver device use can improve adolescent attachment security.