Anna Vicen Renner, couples therapy coach: “We are normalizing the fact that everyone is taking refuge in their screens”

The bedroom remains the primary space for intimacy for Spanish couples, but it is increasingly being occupied by screens. This is confirmed by the study Intimacy and Screens, commissioned by Pikolin and conducted with 500 people aged 25 to 65 who live with a partner. According to the report, nearly seven out of ten couples in Spain use screens in bed before sleeping, and in 60% of cases, the last light turned off in the bedroom is from a digital device.

Beyond being a simple habit, mobile phone use in bed has become a normal part of the nightly routine, directly affecting the quality of relationships. Almost 40% of Spaniards believe their partner prefers their mobile phone to them as a way to disconnect at the end of the day—a sentiment that rises to 45% among younger couples aged 25 to 40.

The study highlights a growing paradox: although the bedroom is still seen as a key space for connection between partners, screens are reducing moments of conversation, presence, and physical contact. One in three Spaniards admits they rarely talk to their partner before sleep, while nearly half check their phones in bed even with their partner beside them.

“Intimacy doesn’t disappear overnight; it erodes gradually when we stop being present,” explains Anna Vicen Renner, a couples therapy coach. “The bed is one of the last spaces where a couple can be together without interruption. When screens take that place, the emotional connection suffers, and over time, so does desire,” she adds.

Almost half of Spaniards (46%) say they feel invisible when their partner uses their phone in bed, 37% admit to feeling guilty for spending more time on their screens than with their partner, and one in three go to sleep feeling ignored.

“We’re normalizing each person retreating into their screen at the very time of day that should be shared,” says Vicen Renner. “This creates frustration, guilt, and a sense of distance that many couples don’t know how to address.”

Using a mobile phone in the bedroom not only affects emotional connection but also generates tension in relationships. Forty-three percent of Spaniards report having argued with their partner over phone use in bed, a figure that rises to 61% among younger women. Furthermore, almost half of those surveyed believe screens are a direct barrier to intimacy and sex, a perception that is even stronger among those under 35.

“We live hyperconnected lives, but increasingly disconnected from those around us,” notes Ana Robledo, marketing director at Pikolin. “Nurturing everyday intimacy begins in the bedroom. It should remain a space for rest, care, and connection. Reclaiming it as a distraction-free haven is the first step toward improving our relationships with our partners,” she concludes.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.