Nomophobia among Preservice Teachers: a descriptive correlational study at Ghanaian Colleges of Education

Exploring risk factors and determinants: A scoping review of factors associated with nomophobia

Background

Nomophobia or no-mobile-phone phobia, defined as the fear of being unable to use or being unreachable via one's mobile phone. The pervasive concern has varied bio-psychosocial and clinical implications in an individual's life. Nomophobia is currently in an exploratory phase.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted to systematically map the relevant evidence and literature on nomophobia. The review of scholarly literature spanning from January 2010 to May 2023 employed a narrative synthesis methodology to succinctly encapsulate the research findings. Additionally, it encompassed a meticulous examination and visual representation of studies, detailing both the frequency of investigation into specific variables and the instances in which said variables exhibited a statistically significant association with nomophobia.

Results

A thorough examination of 92 studies revealed a total of 133 variables spanning demographic, lifestyle-related, academic, smartphone-related, psychosocial, and clinical domains. Notably, 42.86% of these variables have only been investigated in a single research study, underscoring the imperative for replication to enhance the generalizability, validity, and applicability of research findings. Moreover, the review identifies Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) by Yildirim and Correia as the most widely used tool for measuring the severity of nomophobia.

Conclusion

There is a crucial need for homogeneity and consistency in reporting nomophobia scores and establishing corresponding gradations indicative of functional ramifications or clinical severity of nomophobia. The findings elucidate significant research gaps in existing literature on nomophobia, hold implications for further synthesis of data, and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of nomophobia; ensuring superior diagnostic accuracy and precision, and facilitating successful delivery of targeted interventions.

The effect of emotion regulation strategies on nomophobia in college students: The masking role of resilience

College students have a high prevalence of nomophobia. However, research on the effects of emotion regulation and resilience on nomophobia in China is lacking. This research investigated how cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression strategies directly and indirectly affect nomophobia through resilience. Therefore, from March to May 2023, 756 university student volunteers (21.4 % men) were selected from a university in northeastern China for a questionnaire survey. Our findings suggest that college students' resilience has a masking effect on the relationship between cognitive reappraisal and nomophobia and can attenuate the negative effect of the frequency of using cognitive reappraisal strategies on nomophobia. The frequency of expressive suppression strategies directly and positively affected nomophobia. Early psychological interventions targeting resilience might be potentially effective in alleviating nomophobia among college students.

The effect of nomophobic behaviors among nurses on their clinical decision-making perceptions

AIM

This study aimed to explore the impact of nomophobic behaviors among hospital nurses on their clinical decision-making perceptions. This understanding can offer insights to enhance the work environment, improve the clinical decision-making ability of nurses and guide medical institutions in the management of related equipment and policy development.

BACKGROUND

The term "nomophobia" refers to the anxiety and fear individuals experience when they cannot use their smartphones or when smartphones are not accessible. Nursing clinical decision-making is a complex process, including a meticulous assessment of the patient's pathological condition and medical history, alongside the application of nursing knowledge and experiential learning rooted in critical thinking. The concept of clinical decision-making perceptions is defined as a deliberate cognitive understanding of one's decision-making processes, which significantly influences the clinical decision-making capabilities of healthcare professionals, thereby impacting the quality of patient care. The factors influencing these clinical decision-making perceptions have been the subject of extensive research. However, there is no Chinese research on the impact of nurses ' nomophobic behaviors on their clinical decision-making perception.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional descriptive survey using online-based delivery modes was used.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. Using convenience sampling, we surveyed the nurses from a tertiary hospital in Nanjing in May 2023. Data were gathered using a sociodemographic data form, the Nomophobia Questionnaire and the Clinical Decision-Making in Nursing Scale. Techniques including the independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were employed to probe the degree of nomophobia and its effects on their perception of clinical decision-making. Out of 284 questionnaires gathered, 272 were deemed valid, resulting in a 95.8% effective response rate.

RESULTS

The data revealed that participants exhibited a medium level of nomophobia (54.01 ± 24.09) and clinical decision-making perceptions (144.94 ± 20.08). A robust negative correlation was discerned between nomophobia and clinical decision-making perceptions (r: -0.365, P<0.001). This study highlighted that as the degree of nomophobia intensified, nurses' clinical decision-making perceptions decreased with the increase in nomophobia.

CONCLUSION

Nomophobic behaviors can hamper nurses' perception of clinical decision-making, potentially leading to inaccuracies or errors. Nurses must use mobile phones judiciously, practice self-regulation and mitigate the disruptive effects of nomophobia on their decision-making. In addition, medical institutions should foster relevant education or craft policies to regularize mobile phone use, augmenting nurses' efficiency and decision-making prowess, enhancing patient care quality, diminishing medical errors and ensuring patient health and safety.

Sleep and Lifestyle Habits of Medical and Non-Medical Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown

It has been shown that the measures of social distancing and lockdown might have had negative effects on the physical and mental health of the population. We aim to investigate the sleep and lifestyle habits as well as the mood of Croatian medical (MS) and non-medical students (NMS) during the COVID-19 lockdown. The cross-sectional study included 1163 students (21.6% male), whose lifestyle and sleep habits and mood before and during the lockdown were assessed with an online questionnaire. The shift towards later bedtimes was more pronounced among NMS (~65 min) compared to MS (~38 min), while the shift toward later wake-up times was similar in both MS (~111 min) and NMS (~112 min). All students reported more frequent difficulty in falling asleep, night-time awakenings and insomnia (p < 0.001) during lockdown. A higher proportion of MS reported being less tired and less anxious during lockdown compared to pre-lockdown (p < 0.001). Both student groups experienced unpleasant moods and were less content during lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period (p < 0.001). Our results emphasize the need for the promotion of healthy habits in the youth population. However, the co-appearance of prolonged and delayed sleep times along with decreased tiredness and anxiety among MS during lockdown reveals their significant workload during pre-lockdown and that even subtle changes in their day schedule might contribute to the well-being of MS.

The Prevalence of Mild, Moderate, and Severe Nomophobia Symptoms: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression

NOMOPHOBIA, or NO MObile PHone Phobia, refers to a psychological condition in which people fear being disconnected from their mobile phones. The purpose of this review was to establish the prevalence of nomophobia symptoms in youth and young adults according to severity, country, culture, population, measurement tool, and year of data collection. An electronic search of fourteen databases, two digital preservation services, and three content aggregator services was conducted from the inception of each database until 15 September 2021. A total of 52 studies involving 47,399 participants from 20 countries were included in the analyses. The prevalence of nomophobia was defined as the proportion of individuals scoring at or above established cut-offs on validated measures. Based on a random-effects meta-analysis, approximately 20% of individuals showed mild symptoms of nomophobia, 50% showed moderate symptoms, and 20% showed severe symptoms. Our results showed that university students from non-Western cultures are the most likely to suffer severe symptoms. In the year 2021, the prevalence rate of nomophobia increased. The instrument that was best able to detect nomophobia was the nomophobia questionnaire. Most individuals who own mobile phones experience mild or moderate symptoms of nomophobia. Severe symptoms deserve attention from clinicians and research scientists. A valid method of identifying individuals with a severe addiction to their mobile phones will help with timely and effective therapeutic management.

The Impact of Mental Health Predictors of Internet Addiction among Pre-Service Teachers in Ghana

This study examined the prevalence of addictive Internet behavior and its links with mental health among pre-service teachers in Ghana. A descriptive, correlational design was employed with 405 pre-service teachers from colleges of education and a public university in Ghana participating in this study. The sample completed a sociodemographic survey about loneliness, life satisfaction, depression, self-esteem, and the Internet addiction scales (abridged form). The results revealed that there was a significant relationship between pre-service teachers' Internet addiction, depression, life satisfaction, and loneliness; however, depression was the least influential factor in addictive Internet use. Additionally, there was a statistically significant nexus between self-esteem, loneliness, depression, and life satisfaction. In addition, all the above-mentioned variables were discovered to explain 56.3% of the absolute variance in addiction to the Internet. Among the variables linked with Internet addiction and its dimensions, loneliness appeared to be the most significant. Institutional coping programs with Internet addiction should be established within the scope of the university administration, supporting pre-service teachers' mental health. Finally, the development of awareness campaigns on the menaces associated with Internet usage and mental health through extracurricular programs is recommended.

Factors Associated with Mental Health among Malaysian University Music Students: Roles of Fear of COVID-19, Nomophobia, Loneliness, Sleep Quality, and Socioeconomic Status

Previous mental health studies have shown higher levels of anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms among university music students. In general, some similar findings have been observed for Malaysian music university students. In diagnosing the complications of mental health, there is consensus that it is essential to develop and evaluate a model oriented toward mental health illness prevention and treatment. To date, a suitable pattern for estimating mental health in terms of anxiety, stress, and depression among music university students is lacking. To fill this gap, we collected the necessary data from 691 music and 871 general students who were students for one year. The introduced pattern includes socioeconomic status, fear of COVID-19, nomophobia, sleep quality, loneliness, and mental health. Our data analysis proved that the levels of anxiety, depression, and stress of music students were lower than those of general students. Unlike some previous studies, in this study, the fear of COVID-19 and nomophobia didn't have the most significant impact on mental health. The most significant impacts were related to sleep quality and loneliness. These findings have the potential to inform health promotion and services in the music education system.

The Influence of Technostress on Cyberslacking of College Students in Technology-Enhanced Learning: Mediating Effects of Deficient Self-Control and Burnout

College students frequently experience technostress and engage in cyberslacking whilst participating in technology-enhanced learning (TEL). This research aimed to investigate the influence mechanism of technostress on college students' cyberslacking. This research recruited 634 students from two Chinese colleges to complete a web-based questionnaire adapted from previous research. Structural equation modelling was adopted and the research results showed that: in TEL (1) college students' technostress significantly and positively affected cyberslacking; (2) deficient self-control partially mediated college students' technostress and cyberslacking; (3) burnout partially mediated college students' technostress and cyberslacking; and (4) deficient self-control and burnout played a chain mediating role between college students' technostress and cyberslacking. These findings improve our understanding of the influence college students' technostress has on cyberslacking in TEL, and several suggestions to reduce college students' cyberslacking in TEL are proposed.