Researchers validated the Device Attachment Interference Scale (DAIS) in a general population sample of 600 U.S. adolescents aged 12–17, measuring how teens perceive caregiver attentional availability during device use. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed a unidimensional structure. Higher DAIS scores correlated significantly with greater insecure attachment — both anxious and avoidant — toward mother- and father-like figures, as assessed by the Experiences in Close Relationships–Relationship Structures scale.

The study situates these findings within rising prevalence data: 68% of parents reported being at least sometimes distracted by phones when with their child (2020), and 46% of teens said a parent gets distracted during conversations (2024 Pew survey). Terms like "technoference" and "phubbing" describe technology interrupting interpersonal dynamics, previously studied in romantic contexts but only recently examined in parent-child relationships. Prior work links parental phubbing to child behavior problems, emotional neglect, and insecure attachment across cultures.

Attachment theory posits that consistent, responsive caregiving builds secure internal working models; disruption during adolescence — a period when parent-child bonds remain vital — may reinforce anxious clinginess or avoidant distance. The DAIS offers a targeted tool to quantify perceived attentional availability distinct from general relationship satisfaction, enabling clinicians and researchers to screen for device-related relational strain.

The unidimensional DAIS provides a practical, validated measure for future longitudinal work testing whether reducing parental screen distraction during key interaction windows improves attachment security. Its brevity and specificity make it suitable for pediatric intake, family therapy baselines, and school-based digital wellness programs.