A new Institute for Family Studies report suggests, according to Christian post, that excessive smartphone use by a spouse has been linked to marital dissatisfaction, including among couples who attend church regularly. The researchers for the study say, quote, “addiction to smartphones crowds out the opportunity for couples to make time for one another.” They urge couples to take action and establish rules about the use of smartphones and voluntarily use basic phones.

We talk a lot about teens and tech addiction and now we have reason to believe that marriage, society’s most important institution, is threatened when smartphone usage is out of control. Unhappy couples too often decide to walk away rather than address the core issues. Putting down the phones and talking to each other is a good place to start.