Temperament and characteristics related to nomophobia

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.

Nomophobia and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Consumption in Adolescents in Galicia

This study aimed at exploring the association of nomophobia with alcohol, tobacco, and/or cannabis consumption among high school students. We carried out a cross-sectional study among high school and vocational training students in Galicia, Northwest Spain (N = 3,100). Collected data included nomophobia, sociodemographic variables, and alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis consumption. Nomophobia was measured using the validated Nomophobia Questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and their 95 percent confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using generalized linear mixed models. More than a quarter of the adolescents (27.7 percent) had nomophobia. We found an association between nomophobia and a high level of tobacco smoking in the last month in boys (OR = 2.16; 95 percent CI: 1.55-3.03). Nomophobia was also associated with higher odds of binge drinking in both genders (girls: OR = 1.86; 95 percent CI: 1.61-3.52; boys: OR = 2.29; 95 percent CI: 1.68-3.13) and with cannabis consumption in boys (OR = 1.74; 95 percent CI: 1.07-2.81). Our findings highlight the importance of a comprehensive investigation of the factors underlying alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis consumption in the adolescent population.

Effects of aerobic exercise or Tai Chi Chuan interventions on problematic mobile phone use and the potential role of intestinal flora: A multi-arm randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Problematic use of mobile phones (PMPU) has been described as a serious public health issue.

METHODS

This study was a parallel three-arm randomized controlled trial and has completed registration (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05843591). Ninety college students with PMPU were randomly assigned to the aerobic exercise group (AE group, n = 30), the Tai Chi Chuan group (TCC group, n = 30), or the wait-list control group (WLC group, n = 30). At the end of the intervention, stool samples from the study participants were collected for biological analysis based on 16 S rDNA amplicon sequencing technology. The primary outcome was addiction symptoms assessed by the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). The secondary outcomes are emotional symptoms, physical symptoms, and flora species.

RESULTS

Compared with the WLC group, the AE and TCC groups showed reductions in PMPU levels, physical and mental fatigue, but there was no difference between the two groups. Moreover, the effect of increasing self-esteem embodied in the TCC group was not present in the AE group. Compared to the WLC group, the relative abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Bacteroides were lower in the AE group, while the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae and Alistipes were lower in the TCC group. And the relative abundance of Bacteroidaceae, Bacteroides, and Alistipes were significantly and negatively correlated with the decline in PMPU scores.

CONCLUSION

AE or TCC is an effective, safe and efficient intervention for college students with PMPU, providing some physiological and psychological benefits and having some impact on their intestinal flora.

Data on the model of loneliness and smartphone use intensity as a mediator of self-control, emotion regulation, and spiritual meaningfulness in nomophobia

The study was conducted in three locations: Yogyakarta, Palembang, and Jambi. A total of 355 psychology students from three different universities were recruited using purposive sampling. Among the participants, there were 313 females (88.03%) and 42 males (11.83%). The participants completed several questionnaires in the Indonesian version, including the nomophobia NMP-Q scale (Yildirim & Correia, 2015), the R-UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell et al., 1980), the self-control scale (Tangney, Baumeister & Boone, 2004), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004), and the Spiritual Meaningfulness scale developed based on the theory of Pargament (2007). Before commencing the analysis, the research team ensured the accuracy and reliability of the collected data sets. Participants who did not fully complete the questionnaire were removed from the sample. Ethical clearance for this study was obtained from the research ethics committee, and the researchers obtained permission from the respective university administrations for data collection. Prior to participation, all individuals agreed to take part in the study, provided voluntary informed consent, and were assured of the confidentiality and anonymity of their responses.

Nomophobia among university students in five Arab countries in the Middle East: prevalence and risk factors

BACKGROUND

Excessive use of mobile phones leading to development of symptoms suggestive of dependence syndrome with teenagers are far more likely to become dependent on mobile phones as compared to adults. COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of several groups in society, especially university students. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of mobile phone dependence among university students and its associated factors.

METHODS

Between September 2021 and January 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted at universities in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia utilizing an online and paper-based self-administered questionnaire. We employed a previously developed questionnaire by Aggarwal et al. RESULTS: A total of 5,720 university students were involved in this study (Egypt = 2813, Saudi Arabia = 1509, Jordan = 766, Lebanon = 432, and Bahrain = 200). The mean estimated daily time spent on using mobile phone was 186.4 (94.4) minutes. The highest mobile dependence score was observed for the university students from Egypt and the lowest mobile dependence score was observed for the university students from Lebanon. The most common dependence criteria across the study sample was impaired control (55.6%) and the least common one was harmful use (25.1%). Females and those reported having anxiety problem or using a treatment for anxiety were at higher risk of developing mobile phone dependence by 15% and 75%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Mobile phone dependence is common among university students in Arab countries in the Middle East region. Future studies exploring useful interventions to decrease mobile phone dependence are warranted.

Correlations between Problematic Mobile Phone Use and Depressiveness and Daytime Sleepiness, as Well as Perceived Social Support in Adolescents

(1) The aim of this study was to estimate the scale of mobile phone addiction among young adults as well as to establish whether the low level of perceived social support is related to problematic smartphone use, and whether an addictive pattern of mobile phone use is related to the prevalence of depressiveness and excessive daytime sleepiness. (2) The study was carried out using the diagnostic poll method via the questionnaire technique. Both the author's own questionnaire and the following standardized research tools were used: the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale for Adolescents (MPPUSA), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). (3) Perceived social support was significantly lower in the group of respondents who problematically used their mobile phones in comparison with the ones who used them in a proper way. Severity of depressive symptoms and daytime sleepiness was significantly higher in respondents addicted to their mobiles compared to nonaddicted ones. (4) Conclusions: An important correlation between phone addiction and the prevalence of depressive symptoms and excessive daytime sleepiness exists. Problematic mobile phone use concerns individuals with low levels of perceived social support.

Nomophobia and temperaments in Lebanon: Results of a national study

OBJECTIVES

Assess the association between nomophobia and temperaments in the Lebanese population.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study was conducted between January and July 2019 (N = 2260).

RESULTS

A total of 1089 of the participants (48.3%) appeared to have moderate nomophobia while 349 (15.5%) were found to exhibit severe nomophobia. Multivariable analysis showed that higher hyperthymic temperament (β = -0.34) was associated with less nomophobia, whereas higher irritable temperament (β = 0.43) was associated with more nomophobia.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The findings obtained from our study showed that a more irritable temperament was significantly associated with a more severe nomophobia, while hyperthymic temperament was associated with less nomophobia. They open up new perspectives for the evaluation of the temperaments among nomophobics with a better focus on the personality model and how they can predict nomophobia.

The association between nomophobia and loneliness among the general population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background

Nomophobia progresses through phases (initiation, affirmation, need, and dependency), similarly to addiction, and manifests in a variety of ways, including socially, physiologically, and physically. The objective of the study is to examine the association between nomophobia and feelings of loneliness among a sample of the general population from the KSA. Data were gathered between 5 March and 5 April 2022 using a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design. Five hundred twenty-six participants make up the sample for this study. The information is gathered using a sociodemographic data sheet, Internet usage profiles, a nomophobia questionnaire, and the Loneliness Scale.

Results

The majority of people in the study sample use the Internet for between 4 and 9 h, most immediately in the morning, on waking, for gaming, and for social communication. For nomophobia levels among the study population, the highest percentage is for a moderate level of nomophobia, with the highest means being for factor 1 (unable to communicate), followed by factor 4 (giving up convenience). They also have a moderate level of loneliness.

Conclusions

The multivariate analysis shows that the total loneliness score is strongly and positively correlated with the total nomophobia score and its four factors and the duration of daily mobile Internet use. There are also negative correlations with age and education level. Additionally, the overall nomophobia score has an inverse relationship with income level and age, but a high relationship with the frequency of daily mobile Internet use. The study suggests that there is a need for psychoeducation for a variety of sociodemographic groups to raise awareness about the psychological repercussions of nomophobia, practices that will help to reduce the time spent online for arbitrary reasons, to discover new and entertaining ways of communicating with each other.

The Association Between Temperament and Characteristics, Smartphone App Use Patterns and Academic Performance of University Students

BACKGROUND

Smartphone use patterns may predict daily life efficacy and performance improvements in sports. Additionally, personal characteristics may be associated with smartphone overuse.

METHODS

We investigated the correlation between the temperament and character inventory (TCI) and academic performance using smartphone log data. We hypothesized that the elite and general groups, divided based on academic performance, differed according to the TCI and downloadable smartphone apps (applications). Additionally, we hypothesized a correlation between smartphone app usage patterns and TCI. A total of 151 students provided smartphone log data of the previous four weeks. They also completed the TCI and provided academic records of the previous year.

RESULTS

The first and second most frequently used apps by both groups of students were social networking and entertainment, respectively. Elite students scored higher on novelty seeking, reward dependence, persistence, self-directedness, and self-transcendence than general students. In all participants, the usage time of serious apps was correlated with the scores for novelty seeking (r = 0.32, P < 0.007), reward dependence (r = 0.32, P < 0.007), and self-transcendence (r = 0.35, P < 0.006). In the elite group, the usage time of serious apps was correlated with the scores for novelty seeking (r = 0.45, P < 0.001), reward dependence (r = 0.39, P = 0.022), and self-transcendence (r = 0.35, P = 0.031). In the general group, the usage time of serious apps was correlated only with self-transcendence (r = 0.32, P < 0.007).

CONCLUSION

High usage time of serious apps can help sports majors to excel academically. Particularly among sports majors, serious apps are related to activity, the desire for rewards and recognition, and the tendency to transcend themselves.

Relationships between personality traits and nomophobia: Research on nurses working in public hospitals

PURPOSE

In this study, some personal and smartphone usage characteristics will be examined as the determinants of nomophobia, and its relationship with personality traits will be tested.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The sample of the descriptive and correlative study consisted of 669 nurses working in six hospitals in Istanbul. The data collection tool consisted of three parts: Descriptive information form, Nomophobia Scale, and Five-Factor Personality Traits Scale.

FINDINGS

There was a relationship between nurses' nomophobia levels and neuroticism scores (r = 0.201; p < 0.001). The relationships nomophobia levels with other personality features were found to be either significant but negative, and very low power or statistically non-significant.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

As a result of the research, the prevalence of nomophobia increases due to the use of smartphones, especially the younger generation is at risk for nomophobia and that the personality traits of the people do not have a strong explanatory on the levels of nomophobia.

Nomophobia and relationships with latent classes of solitude

Recently, nomophobia (separation anxiety from mobile phone) has become a common phenomenon. The authors' main purpose was to explore latent classes of solitude behaviors and how they are related to nomophobia. Chinese versions of the Nomophobia Scale and the Solitude Behaviour Scale were used in a sample of college students (351 female and 327 male). Latent class analysis, analysis of variance, and regression analysis were employed to classify solitude behaviors and explore the relationship between solitude and nomophobia. A six-class model best fit the data (BIC = 60086.49). Significant differences among the classes were found on nomophobia. Loneliness, social avoidance, and eccentricity significantly predicted nomophobia. Solitude behaviors of college students can be divided into six latent classes. The classes with a high response preference for solitude scored higher on nomophobia, especially the fear of losing an Internet connection. Not self-determined solitude and negative-solitude had a positive effect on nomophobia.

The relationship between nomophobia level and worry severity in future healthcare professional candidates

PURPOSE

This descriptive study was conducted to determine the relationship between nomophobia level and anxiety severity among university students.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The study was completed with a total of 745 students. A descriptive questionnaire and the nomophobia questionnaire and measure of worry severity. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses were used.

FINDING

It was found positive correlation was determined between the nomophobia level and severity of anxiety.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

İndividuals with nomophobia should be given the necessary assistance before the current situation worsens. Information about the correct use of the smartphone should be provided.

Nomophobia in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence: the Development and Validation of a New Interactive Electronic Nomophobia Test

The widely spread dependence on smartphones by children, adolescents, and adults has shoved researchers to assess its impact on the wellbeing of individuals. Nomophobia, the fear of being out of cellular contact, was typically assessed by self-report measures or proxy measures in adolescents and older adults. The goal of the current study was to examine nomophobia in late childhood and adolescence using scenario-based vignettes that are interactively presented and mediated by computers. To fulfill this goal, the Interactive Electronic Nomophobia Test (IENT), comprising of five scenario-based vignettes, was developed and administered to 1211 students aged between 10 and 18 years and enrolled in grades 5–12. The IENT psychometric properties were examined using a series of confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Additionally, the study examined the clustering nomophobia symptoms in a nationally representative sample of Omani students and explored the association of these Nomophobia symptoms with both students’ grade and gender. Results of the study provided evidence of the four-pronged structure of the IENT, and an overall all composite nomophobia score, with strong associations found among the subscales, and between each of the four subscales and Nomophobia composite score. Invariance tests found significantly different model results by gender in all cases. Finally, cluster analysis revealed two to three clusters, with significant associations between gender, class, and cluster type. Implications of the study are discussed in view of previous literature on the assessment of nomophobia and smartphone addiction.

Nomophobia in Lebanon: Scale validation and association with psychological aspects

Objectives

Nomophobia, an abbreviation of “No mobile phone phobia”, is characterized by the illogical fear of being detached from the mobile phone or unable to use it. Research have provided evidence of an association between increased cellular phone use and multiple health issues, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and others. To our knowledge, there are no Lebanese studies about nomophobia, despite the high incorporation rate of mobile phones in Lebanon and the likelihood of suffering from anxiety, depression, and other conditions due to nomophobic attitudes. The study objectives were to validate and confirm psychometric properties of the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) and examine the associations between particular psychological conditions (anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia and impulsivity) and nomophobia among a representative sample of Lebanese people.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out between January and July 2019. It enrolled 2260 residents of the community randomly selected from Lebanon’s Mohafazat. Two villages per sub-district and households from each village were chosen using a random sampling technique. A questionnaire was distributed randomly to the households. SPSS version 25 was used to perform the statistical analysis. A multinomial regression was computed taking the nomophobia categories as the dependent variable (and taking the absence of nomophobia as the reference category) and all variables that showed a significant association in the bivariate analysis as independent variables.

Results

A total of 2260 (80.71%) out of 2800 questionnaires distributed was collected back. The mean age of the participants was 27.98 ± 9.66 years (58.8% females). Moreover, the mean nomophobia score was 71.56 ± 26.92 (median = 71; minimum = 14; maximum = 140). The results showed that 46 (2.0%) had no nomophobia, 769 (34.1%) mild nomophobia [95% CI 0.322–0.361], 1089 (48.3%) moderate nomophobia [95% CI 0.463–0.504] and 349 (15.5%) severe nomophobia [95% CI 0.140–0.170]. Items of the nomophobia scale converged over a solution of three factors that had an Eigenvalue over 1 (Factor 1 = emotions associated to losing connectedness, Factor 2 = not being able to communicate, Factor 3 = not being able to access information; total variance explained = 66.65%, and Cronbach’s alpha = 0.948). The results of a multinomial regression, taking the nomophobia score as the dependent variable, showed that higher age was significantly associated with lower odds of having mild (aOR = 0.97), moderate (aOR = 0.93) and severe (aOR = 0.97) nomophobia respectively. Higher anxiety (aOR = 1.09) and higher insomnia (aOR = 1.04) were significantly associated with higher odds of having severe nomophobia.

Conclusion

The results suggest a positive correlation between nomophobia and psychological conditions. There is a need for longitudinal and prospective studies that furnish information with regards of the impact of time on the variables measured, in order to better understand the nature, causes, and attributes of nomophobia.

Relationship between nomophobia of nursing students and their obesity and self-esteem

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between student nurses' nomophobia levels and obesity and self-esteem.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This study is a descriptive-correlational type study. This study conducted 607 nursing students. Data were collected with "Personal Information Form," "Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q)," and "The Self Esteem Rating Scale-Short Form."

FINDINGS

As a result of the research, it was determined that the students had moderate nomophobia. There was no significant relationship between nomophobia and obesity and self-esteem.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

It was determined that especially when they are bored, the rate of using smartphones is high, and the use of smartphones harms their lives. More studies are needed to examine the relationship of nomophobia with students' body mass index and self-esteem.

Test for Mobile phone dependence: psychometric properties and confirmatory factor analysis

The Test of Mobile Phone Dependence (TMD) is a questionnaire designed for appraising the main dimensions of problematic smartphone use in adolescence. This study evaluates the factor structure and psychometric properties of the TMD on a sample of 813 Italian middle and high school students. The original three-factor model (Abstinence, Lack of Control, and Tolerance) of the TMD was tested through a Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The results of the goodness of fit indices indicated a satisfactory solution. The overall TMD score showed a good level of internal consistency and good construct validity with the duration of use, age of possession of the first mobile phone, perceived self-efficacy, gender, and participants’ age. The relationship between TMD and Nomophobia was also explored. Overall, the results indicate that the TMD is a valid and reliable assessment tool in Italian culture. However, reliability issues emerged on the subfactor Lack of Control. This indicates that the scores on this subfactor should be treated with caution.

Temperament-Character Traits and Attitudes Toward Premature Ejaculation in 4 Types of Premature Ejaculation

BACKGROUND

Although temperament-character traits and attitudes toward premature ejaculation (PE) are known to be associated with PE, it is of great significance to study them in PE. Moreover, few studies have evaluated these traits and attitudes in the new classification of 4 subtypes of PE.

AIM

We investigated the temperament-character traits and attitudes toward PE in 4 types of PE and their associations with PE.

METHODS

Between December 2018 and December 2019, we conducted a survey in our hospital, and enrolled 350 men who complained of PE and 252 men without any complaint of PE. Temperament-character traits and attitudes toward PE were independently assessed by the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised and several targeted questions, respectively. The Index of Premature Ejaculation (IPE) was used to evaluate ejaculation control, sexual life satisfaction, and distress caused by PE.

OUTCOMES

The outcomes included differences of temperament-character traits and attitudes toward PE among 2 groups and their associations with PE.

RESULTS

Of the 2 groups, men with PE complaints had lower novelty seeking/self-transcendence (NS/ST) scores and higher harm avoidance (HA) scores vs men without any complaints of PE. Among the 4 types of PE, men with variable PE had the highest score of HA and lowest score of NS; the lowest score of ST was recorded in men with lifelong PE. Additionally, the total and subdomain scores of IPE in men with subjective PE were higher than the other subtypes of PE. After adjusting for age, positive correlations were observed in HA score and total and subdomain scores of IPE, whereas the inverse was true corresponding to NS and ST.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The current study has provided a new perspective for understanding the impact of psychological factors on PE.

STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS

This is the first study to systematically assess the effects of personality traits and attitudes on PE, especially among the 4 types of PE. The main drawback is that the generalizability of this study may be limited by the fact that it was conducted in a single cultural/societal background.

CONCLUSION

Men who complained of PE tended to react with indifference or rejection to novelty, tended to feel unsatisfied, cannot effectively adapt to changes in the surrounding environment, and tended to avoid situations involving risk. These characteristics could lead to their becoming disheartened when faced with PE. Furthermore, the attitude of men with PE reflects the needs of the patient during treatment from one aspect. Gao P, Gao J Wang Y, et al. Temperament-Character Traits and Attitudes Toward Premature Ejaculation in 4 Types of Premature Ejaculation. J Sex Med 2021;18:72-82.

Development of Nomophobia Profiles in Education Students through the Use of Multiple Correspondence Analysis

(1) Background: Nomophobia is a recent behavioural addiction phenomenon. The present study proposes the objective of determining levels of nomophobia in students of Education. In addition, it seeks to find evidence regarding whether cross-tabulating variables produces statistically significant differences and to examine whether the contemplated variables, together with nomophobia levels, can be used to generate a student profile. (2) Methods: A total of 510 students (M = 20.69 years) participated in this study. For the collection of information, we developed a Likert-type ad hoc scale of nomophobia. The quantitative data analysis programmes SPSS v.25 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA), STATA.v.15 (StatCorp, Spring, TX, USA) and jamovi v.1.2 (The jamovi project, Sidney, Australia) were used to analyse information collected by the previously described scale. (3) Results: The study concludes the existence of three main levels of correspondence. The first is formed by students with a low level of nomophobia. It is associated with students undertaking the first year of a Master's degree who are older than 24, and in this case, gender does not play a discriminating role. The second describes students with moderate nomophobia. It is associated with females, the degree titles of Pedagogy and Primary Education, undertaking the first or second year of degree study and ages of between 21 and 24. Finally, the third level of correspondence is formed by students with high nomophobia. It is related to the same characteristics as those previously mentioned but ages typically ranging between 17 and 20.

Nomophobia: Is the Fear of Being without a Smartphone Associated with Problematic Use?

Mobile phones are changing behaviour, relationships, communication and the dynamics of physical environments. As such, reliance on the device for everyday activities has increased. Consequently, "nomophobia", defined as the fear of being without one's mobile phone, has emerged as a new phobia. The current study aimed to determine if nomophobia can increase the likelihood of problematic dependent, prohibited and dangerous mobile phone use. The sample comprised 2838 participants (males n = 1337 females n = 1501) recruited from various online platforms. The instrument used to measure nomophobia was the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), while problematic mobile phone use was measured using the Problematic Mobile Phone Use Questionnaire (PMPUQ-R). The findings revealed a strong positive correlation between nomophobia and all three problematic use factors. In addition to nomophobia, regression models revealed younger age and more time spent on a mobile phone per day significantly increased problematic dependency, prohibited use and dangerous use. Males were more likely to engage in prohibited and dangerous use, while no significant gender differences were found in dependent use. These findings support the need for further research into the relationship between nomophobia and specific aspects of problematic mobile phone use, such as using a mobile phone while driving.

Do Age, Gender and Poor Diet Influence the Higher Prevalence of Nomophobia among Young People?

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is generating the emergence of new pathologies such as nomophobia. The aim of this research was to analyze the prevalence of nomophobia among young people, as well as to check whether the level of nomophobia is higher in males or females and in those students who claim to have less healthy nutrition due to the use of their mobile phones. The research method was based on a correlational and predictive design with a quantitative methodology. The measurement tool used is the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q). The participating sample was 1743 students between 12 and 20 years old from different educational stages of the Autonomous City of Ceuta (Spain). The results show that highest rates of nomophobia were found in relation to the inability to communicate and contact others immediately. About gender, women have higher rates of nomophobia than men. In relation to age, no significant differences were found; thus, the problem may affect all ages equally. Finally, students who think that their smartphone use is detrimental to their good nutrition show higher levels on the scale provided.

Nomophobia: impact of cell phone use and time to rest among teacher students

Nomophobia is one of the modern pathologies that has been born as a consequence of the impact that portable technologies have had on society and the dependence generated among citizens, especially towards smartphones. This phobia manifests itself and is intensified by the loss of immediate access to information, to the network of contacts, as well as by the impossibility of contacting or being contacted by other people. All this ends up interfering with the development of the person's daily life (physical, physiological, psychological, social problems, among others). Although the research is in an incipient phase, the problem has not been studied with the teaching population, so we present a pioneering study with this group, the main objective being to analyze the prevalence of nomophobia in future teachers of Early Childhood and Primary Education, as well as to check the incidence of rest time in the levels of nomophobia. The study follows a descriptive, correlational, transversal and predictive design and a quantitative methodology. The standardized nomophobia questionnaire NMP-Q was used on a sample of n = 849 future teachers. The results show average levels of nomophobia in most of the variables. However, the higher levels of nervousness, fear or anxiety stand out due to the inability to communicate instantaneously. Also, a higher prevalence of the problem is observed in the sector of the sample that claims to sacrifice rest time due to the use of their mobile phone. Although these numbers are not alarming, we must take into account that in some variables the prevalence is slightly higher, making it necessary to make educational interventions in this regard and to promote education for the responsible and critical use of media and technologies.

Nomophobia: An Individual's Growing Fear of Being without a Smartphone-A Systematic Literature Review

This review examines the current literature focused on nomophobia (objectives, methodological design, main variables, sample details, and measurement methods) in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. To this end, we conducted a systematic literature review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. The initial sample consisted of 142 articles, of which 42 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in detail. The findings show that the current research is in an exploratory phase, with a greater predominance of descriptive, nonexperimental, and cross-sectional studies that explore the prevalence of nomophobia mainly in adolescents and university students. The most widely used measurement instrument is the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) proposed by Yildrim and Correia. In addition, the research suggests that nomophobia negatively affects personality, self-esteem, anxiety, stress, academic performance, and other physical and mental health problems. We are therefore faced with a health problem, which negatively affects a person, causing psychological problems and physical and behavioral changes.

Nomophobia and Health Hazards: Smartphone Use and Addiction Among University Students

Background

Nomophobia, a state of socio-psychological illness, refers to a fear of lack of access to mobile phone, which is thought to be a modern age disorder that causes negative health risks and harmful psychological effects. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the smartphone use and nomophobia disorder among university students.

Methods

The study utilized a cross-sectional method in which 320 students were selected via cluster sampling. Data collection tools included a nomophobia and smartphones use questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software in two sections: descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.

Results

The incidence rate of nomophobia among the students was moderate (3.1), and 73% of the students were moderate smartphone users. Nomophobia had a significant relationship with gender, age group, and level of education; and the frequency of using smartphones had a significant relationship with age group and level of education. There was a positive correlation coefficient between nomophobia and the frequency of using smartphones. The mobile phone use predicted nomophobia with a beta coefficient of 0.402 (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Given the incidence rate of nomophobia disorder was moderate, it is necessary to make preventive decisions and plan educational programs in this regard for the health of university students. Alternative actions are recommended for the treatment in low rate of nomophobia, but drug therapy should be used in more advanced stages; therefore, it is suggested that more attention to be paid to students' free time and entertainments.