New study shows how smartphones can affect family dynamics

(CBS, KYMA) - Smartphone distraction is a problem many of us face, and for parents, it can have a big impact on their relationship with their teenagers.

A study published in Frontiers in Psychology finds the more moms and dads stare at their phones, the less emotionally connected their teens feel to them, with greater levels of avoidance and anxiousness.

Even quick but repeated glances at the phone cause negative effects.

Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Sheryl Ziegler says parents should set rules for the entire family, including screen-free times and no phones at the dinner table, explain when you absolutely need to use your phone when a child is asking for attention, and keep the phones out of the bedroom.

"When they want to talk to you, you want to be present and available, because it's not very often that they might want to talk to you. So those look downs, those one more minutes, those 'Uh, huh, yeah yeah,' that really added up."

In a separate study in Jama Pediatrics, 77% of parents of younger children used some type of media during their last family meal.