Peer phubbing and selfie liking: The roles of attention seeking and gender

• Lujie Hao

  Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade

• Dan Liu

  Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade

• Jie Yin

  Huaqiao University

• Bingkun Lin

  Minnan Normal University

• Xiaosan Zhang

  Xiamen National Accounting Institute

• Qingquan Jiang

  Xiamen University of Technology

We explored the relationship between being phubbed by one’s peers and selfie liking, and examined the mediating effect of attention seeking and the moderating effect of gender in this relationship. An online survey was conducted with 427 university students. The results reveal that peer phubbing was positively related to attention seeking and selfie liking. Further, attention seeking was positively related to selfie liking, and attention seeking mediated the relationship between peer phubbing and selfie liking. The indirect pathways involved gender differences, with a stronger indirect effect for men compared to that for women. Thus, gender moderated the relationship between peer phubbing and attention seeking, as well as the relationship between attention seeking and selfie liking. These findings illustrate that selfie-related behaviors may function as a buffer for being phubbed. Moreover, phubbed individuals are prone to engage in attention-seeking behavior and frequent selfie liking.

1. Lujie Hao, Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade
   School of Economics & Management
2. Dan Liu, Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade
   School of Economics & Management
3. Jie Yin, Huaqiao University
   College of Tourism
4. Bingkun Lin, Minnan Normal University
   School of Business
5. Xiaosan Zhang, Xiamen National Accounting Institute
   Research Center for Belt and Road Financial and Economic Development
6. Qingquan Jiang, Xiamen University of Technology
   School of Economics and Management

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