Technoference: Trust and quality of alternatives

Today the technology is connected strictly to close relationships. In fact, this could interfere with the satisfaction level and couple wellness (McDaniel e Coyne, 2016). Devices abuse 68 could increase conflicts and couple dissatisfaction (Eggett e Lindsay, 2012; Coyne et al., 2012). This phenomenon has been defined technoference. Often couples are physically together in the same room but partners are more involved with their devices than in the interaction with other (Turkle, 2012). The facility of access to the network through smartphones increases the opportunity to evaluate alternatives to ongoing relationship. In addition, this could interfere with the development of trust in relationships (Przybylski and Weinstein, 2012). Our goal is to verify the effect of the technology interference on quality of alternatives and trust. This study is based on a sample of 92 subjects between 21 and 58 years (M=36,90 years). We used Technology Interference in Life Examples Scale (TILES; McDaniel & Coyne, 2016), the subscale of Quality of Alternatives of Investment Model Scale (IML; Rusbult et al., 1998) and Trust Questionnaire (adapted by Yamagishi, 1986). We run a linear regression between technology interference and alternative qualities (β=.213), and, then, between technology interference and trust (β=-.314). Our results confirmed that the use of devices increased quality of alternatives and influenced trust negatively. We discussed the results in terms of marital enrichment programs.