Nomophobia: an emerging issue in medical institutions?

Trends and Influencing Factors in Problematic Smartphone Use Prevalence (2012-2022): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Given that problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been researched for a long time, it becomes necessary to assess how the trends of PSU prevalence have evolved over time. In total, 106 articles from 2012 to 2022 with 109 studies covering 97,748 individuals were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The estimation of the global pooled PSU prevalence was 37.1% (95% confidence interval, 33.5 - 40.8%) and the PSU prevalence is growing over time in total. Although the PSU prevalence exhibited wide variation between regions and measurement scales, the increasing trend remained. In addition, the regression slope of the PSU prevalence trend in males was higher than that in females. Males initially had a lower prevalence of PSU than females, but this steadily changed over time until it was greater in males than in females. Moreover, the prevalence of PSU showed an increasing trend across all age groups, with a faster growth rate in the older age group. Considering the aforementioned results, it's necessary to implement proper interventions to do with this phenomenon. In addition, considering the differences in prevalence brought by regions, and measurement scales, in practice and research, we should not only take into account the disparities of PSU between countries or cultures, but also to concern about establishing unified standard and measurement tools to confirm it.

The Prevalence of Nomophobia in Medical Undergraduate Students of Central India

Introduction Nomophobia is an emerging phobia resulting from people's excessive interaction with mobile phones. This phobia is rapidly increasing due to significant technological innovations and widespread acceptance and usage of mobile phones worldwide. Nomophobia is often associated with complications such as panic attacks, irritability, and anxiety. Smartphone usage is particularly high among the younger population, raising concerns as it generates distress and leads to various problems. This study aims to determine the prevalence of nomophobia among undergraduates. Method  The study utilized the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) with a minimum sample size of 136. A total of 300 Google Forms (Google, Mountain View, California) were circulated, out of which 172 responses were received. A Google Form comprising 20 questions related to smartphone use and nomophobia was designed and distributed to all undergraduate students, who were requested to complete the form. The data based on their responses were subsequently analyzed. Results In this study, approximately 31.40% of students disagreed with experiencing panic when running out of credits or hitting monthly data limits. Additionally, 24.42% of students agreed that not having smartphones made them worried, as their family and friends could not contact them. About 16.86% of students strongly disagreed with feeling uneasy because they could not stay updated without their phones. Furthermore, 16.28% strongly agreed that they felt anxious due to the inability to contact their family and friends when not having smartphones. Conclusion It can be concluded from this study that nomophobia is present among undergraduate students. The overall usage of smartphones has increased in this population, highlighting the emergence of a serious disorder that warrants attention. Consequently, the usage of smartphones should be reduced through structured training programs, as this proves to be an effective method for enhancing undergraduates' understanding of the prevention and treatment of nomophobia.

Nomophobia and Its Relationship with Social Anxiety and Procrastination in Nursing Students: An Observational Study

Nomophobia is a phenomenon that describes the fear of not having one's mobile phone accessible. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of nomophobia among nursing students as well as its relationship with procrastination and social anxiety.

METHODS

An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 308 nursing students. Data were collected using the Nomophobia Questionnaire, Academic Procrastination Scale-Short Form, and Social Anxiety Questionnaire for Adults. Additionally, sociodemographic variables related to academic performance and smartphone use were collected. We performed a descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analysis of the Nomophobia Questionnaire score.

RESULTS

19.5% (n = 60) of the students presented with or were at high risk of nomophobic behaviour. Moreover, nomophobic behaviour was positively correlated with high levels of social anxiety (p < 0.001), longer daily smartphone usage time (p < 0.001), and a high frequency of smartphone checking in class (p < 0.001). The predictive variables for nomophobic behaviour included age, variables related to smartphone use, social anxiety levels, work, procrastination tendency, sex, and self-reported average grade.

CONCLUSION

One out of five students in the sample studied presented with or were at high risk of nomophobic behaviour. Additionally, nomophobic behaviour was associated with social anxiety and variables related to smartphone use. This study was not registered.

Prevalence and Factors Related to Nomophobia: Arising Issues among Young Adults

Nomophobia is characterized as apprehension of being apart from smartphone, which causes the user to seek proximity with the device. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence and factors associated to nomophobia among young adults in Athens, the capital city of Greece. A cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of 1408 young adults aged 18-25 years. The questionnaire was anonymous, including the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, the smartphone uses, and the nomophobia questions. Statistical analyses were done by simple univariable techniques or modeling the data through generalized linear models. Almost all participants (99.9%) exhibited any level of nomophobia, with the moderate level prevailing (57.0%). Women and non-working participants were more likely to exhibit severe nomophobia (adj PR = 1.57) and any level of nomophobia was 30% higher among the participants whose father had no academic degree (p = 0.029). In addition, 59% of those with severe nomophobia had very frequent phone checking (p < 0.001) while 45.8% with any level of nomophobia reported a negative influence on their academic performance. Attention should be paid to early prevention through the development of integrated health promotion programs.

Touch-operated world of teenagers in the distance education process: A cross-sectional study on nomophobia, netlessphobia and fear of missing out in nursing students

AIM

To determine the levels of nomophobia, netlessphobia and fear of missing out of nursing students in this digital era and to perform comparison according to their personal and smartphone usage characteristics.

BACKGROUND

The time we live in has provoked some digital diseases along with many developments that have made our lives easier. Nomophobia, netlessphobia and fear of missing out, which develop due to excessive or inappropriate use of smartphones, the Internet and social media, are among those digital diseases.

DESIGN

This is a descriptive, comparative, correlational and cross-sectional study.

METHODS

The data were obtained from 802 volunteer students at the nursing faculties of three public universities in Istanbul between 15 April and 15 May 2022. The personal information form, Nomophobia Questionnaire, Firat Netlessphobia Scale and Fear of Missing Out Scale were used as data collection instruments. The data were analyzed using Cronbach's alpha and descriptive, correlative and comparative analyses.

RESULTS

The scale scores of nursing students were below the average in general; however, it was determined that the nomophobia scores were higher than the netlessphobia and fear of missing out scores. While gender and grade variables made a significant difference with nomophobia (p < 0.05), no significant difference was found with netlessphobia and fear of missing out (p > 0.05). Those who connect to the Internet from home; use the Internet for distance education and social media; use the Internet on their smartphones for a longer period in a day; check their smartphone more often; carry a phone charger with them; spend time on their smartphones before sleeping and after waking up; and consider themselves addicted obtained higher scores (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Digital issues of our time are both associated with the interaction among each other and smartphone usage characteristics. It is considered important to evaluate themselves regarding inappropriate or excessive use and risky behavior, as well as adapting approaches to protect young people.

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.

Network structure of mobile phone addiction and anxiety symptoms among rural Chinese adolescents

BACKGROUND

The incidence of mobile phone addiction among adolescents in rural areas of China is increasing year by year, and has already exceeded that of some cities. And phone addiction increases the risk of anxiety and poor sleep. Therefore, this study used network analysis to investigate the relationship between mobile phone addiction and anxiety symptoms, and the predictability to sleep quality.

METHODS

From September 2021 to March 2022, a total of 1920 rural adolescents in Xuzhou, China were included. The survey included information on phone addiction, anxiety symptoms, and sleep quality. Network analysis was used to estimate the network structure of adolescents' mobile phone addiction and anxiety symptoms. LOWESS curve and linear regression were used to test the predictive ability of node-centrality on sleep quality.

RESULTS

In the network of mobile phone addiction-anxiety symptoms, the most influential symptoms were Failure to cut down the time, Anxiety if not used for some time, and Alleviate loneliness. Irritability was the most prominent bridging symptom. Gender difference had no effect on network structure. Nodes in the network are not predictive of sleep quality.

CONCLUSION

Failure to cut down the time is the most important symptom, suggesting that measures should be taken to reduce the amount of time spent on mobile phones. For example, increase outdoor exercise, increase the real company of friends and family, in order to reduce the occurrence of mobile phone addiction and anxiety.

Prevalence of Nomophobia in University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of nomophobia in university students.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted of the following databases: Web of Science/ Core Collection, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Ovid/ MEDLINE until March 2021. Cross-sectional studies reporting the prevalence of nomophobia in undergraduate or postgraduate university students that assessed nomophobia with the 20-item Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) tool were included. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were performed in duplicate. A meta-analysis of proportions was performed using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using sensitivity analysis according to the risk of bias, and subgrouping by country, sex, and major.

RESULTS

We included 28 cross-sectional studies with a total of 11,300 participants from eight countries, of which 23 were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of mild nomophobia was 24% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20%-28%; I2 = 95.3%), that of moderate nomophobia was 56% (95% CI, 53%-60%; I2 = 91.2%), and that of severe nomophobia was 17% (95% CI, 15%-20%; I2 = 91.7%). Regarding countries, Indonesia had the highest prevalence of severe nomophobia (71%) and Germany had the lowest (3%). The prevalence was similar according to sex and major.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a high prevalence of moderate and severe nomophobia in university students. Interventions are needed to prevent and treat this problem in educational institutions.

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.

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.

Nomophobia and its effects on seafarers

BACKGROUND: New technologies for ships affect many aspects of seafarers’ lives at work. Nowadays, many shipowners provide their ships with internet access for the personal use of the crew. After all these developments, nomophobia is no longer a phenomenon far from seafarers. Nomophobia affects mental health and motivation in seafarers, like all people who can use smartphones. Until now, there has been no study investigating nomophobia in seafarers and its effects on life at sea. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nomophobia among seafarers and examine the causes and consequences of differences between groups. METHODS: A previously designed and tested questionnaire was used to determine nomophobia and its effects on seafarers. Three hundred fifty one seafarers participated in the study. ANOVA and T-tests were performed with SPSS 22 package program to find significant differences. RESULTS: Nomophobia differed significantly according to age groups, gender, and education level. Headache and fatigue increased in direct proportion to the level of nomophobia. CONCLUSION: It was found that 65.2% of the seafarers had moderate to severe 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.

Prevalence of smartphone addiction among Asian medical students: A meta-analysis of multinational observational studies

BACKGROUND

High prevalence of smartphone addiction among medical students may contribute to adverse physical and mental health outcomes.

AIM

To estimate the prevalence of smartphone addiction, and explore the influencing factors and related mental health symptoms of smartphone addiction among Asian medical students.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

PubMed (MEDLINE), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE were searched for relevant literature from the inception to September 10, 2021. Using Stata software 11.0, the meta-analysis of prevalence and the influencing factors of smartphone addiction were determined with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Nineteen articles, published between 2014 and 2019, were included, producing medical student studies from seven different Asian countries. The included studies were conducted in India (n = 11) and Malaysia (n = 3), with China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Nepal, and Iran each contributing one study. Among a total of 5,497 medical students, the participants included 3,214 females, of whom 2,181 were medical students with smartphone addiction. The prevalence of smartphone addiction among Asian medical students was 41.93% (95% CI [36.24%, 47.72%]). The influencing factors of smartphone addiction among medical students included gender, duration of smartphone use, smartphone function, and marital status. Ten studies (52.63%) explored related mental health symptoms of smartphone addiction among Asian medical students. Smartphone addiction was positively correlated with poor sleep quality (r = .17-.31), stress (r = .30-.40), anxiety, depression, neuroticism, and general health among Asian medical students.

CONCLUSION

Smartphone addiction is highly prevalent among Asian medical students. Smartphone addiction may adversely affect mental health, resulting in sleep disturbance, stress, anxiety, depression, and neuroticism. It is necessary to take appropriate precautionary actions and interventions to prevent smartphone overuse among medical students.

Exploring Internet Addiction in Italian Nurses during the COVID-19 Outbreak

(1) Background: Nomophobia is considered a digital and virtual contemporary society disorder and refers to discomfort, anxiety, nervousness, or distress caused by being out of contact with a cell phone or computer. The present study had a twofold objective: to evaluate the expert use of the Internet among Italian nurses by correlating it with socio-demographic characteristics, such as: sex, years of work experience, professional role, and level of nursing education; and to assess a possible increase in the levels of nomophobia among Italian nurses during COVID-19 compared to the pre-pandemic period. (2) Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted from April to September 2020, such as during the First Wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. (3) Results: A total of 502 nurses were enrolled in the present study. Significantly differences were reported in the IAT (Internet Addiction Test) levels according to socio-demographic characteristics since males reported significantly higher IAT levels than females (p < 0.001). Nurses who worked more than 6 years reported significantly higher IAT levels (p = 0.031) than their younger colleagues. More nursing managers and coordinators reported significantly higher IAT levels than registered nurses (p < 0.001). This trend was repeated by considering the nursing educational level, as nurses who recorded more years of nursing educational level reported significantly higher IAT levels than the others (p = 0.003). Additionally, significant differences were reported according to all the socio-demographic characteristics considered and IAT subdimensions, namely: Salience, Excessive Use, Neglect Work, Anticipation, and Lack of Control. (4) Conclusions: The study revealed higher levels of Internet addiction in men than in women during the COVID-19 pandemic period, as well as a significant correlation between nomophobia, years of work experience, and the role of nursing coordinator/manager.

Nomophobia and Its Associated Factors in Peruvian Medical Students

Nomophobia is the discomfort caused by not being in contact with a cell phone. Few studies have addressed nomophobia in university students. The study aimed to evaluate nomophobia and its associated factors in Peruvian medical students. We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study on Peruvian medical students between June 2020 and March 2021, using an online survey disseminated through social networks. We analyzed 3139 responses (females: 61.1%, median age: 22 years): 25.7% presented moderate nomophobia and 7.4% severe nomophobia. In the adjusted model, the nomophobia score was lower in students ≥24 years (β: −4.1, 95% CI: −7.2 to −1.0) and was higher in those who had a mobile internet data plan (β: 2.9, 0.8 to 5.0), used the cell phone >4 h (β: 4.5, 2.3 to 6.7), used a smartphone mainly for education (β: 2.5, 0.2 to 4.8), social networks (β: 8.2, 5.8 to 10.6) and entertainment (β: 3.3, 0.5 to 6.1), and those who presented possible anxious (β: 6.6, 4.3 to 8.9) or depressive (β: 19.5, 5.2 to 9.6) symptomatology. In conclusion, nomophobia in university students is a frequent and emerging problem, present mainly at younger ages and associated with symptoms of anxiety or depression. Implementing evaluation and early intervention strategies would favor the mental health of university students.

Risk of Accidents or Chronic Disorders From Improper Use of Mobile Phones: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Mobile phone use has brought convenience, but the long or improper use of mobile phones can cause harm to the human body.

Objective

We aimed to assess the impact of improper mobile phone use on the risks of accidents and chronic disorders.

Methods

We systematically searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases for studies published prior to April 5, 2019; relevant reviews were also searched to identify additional studies. A random-effects model was used to calculate the overall pooled estimates.

Results

Mobile phone users had a higher risk of accidents (relative risk [RR] 1.37, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.55). Long-term use of mobile phones increased accident risk relative to nonuse or short-term use (RR 2.10, 95% CI 1.63 to 2.70). Compared with nonuse, mobile phone use resulted in a higher risk for neoplasms (RR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.14), eye diseases (RR 2.03, 95% CI 1.27 to 3.23), mental health disorders (RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.32), and headaches (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.32); the pooled risk of other chronic disorders was 1.20 (95% CI 0.90 to 1.59). Subgroup analyses also confirmed the increased risk of accidents and chronic disorders.

Conclusions

Improper use of mobile phones can harm the human body. While enjoying the convenience brought by mobile phones, people have to use mobile phones properly and reasonably.

The Emerging Phenomenon of Nomophobia in Young Adults: A Systematic Review Study

Background

Nomophobia (No MObile PHone PhoBIA) refers to the worry or fear that individuals experience when they are without their mobile phone or they are unable to use it. The term was first coined in 2008 and it is considered a modern type of phobia. The aim of the present study was to retrieve and review the most relevant literature on the prevalence of nomophobia and its relationship with psychosocial and physical health among young adults.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted according the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) for original papers on the phenomenon of nomophobia in young adults using the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) as the main measuring instrument. The literature was focused on the 3 main topics of prevalence and level of nomophobia, nomophobia and psychosocial effects, and nomophobia and physical health in young adults.

Findings

The initial literature corpus consisted of 370 articles of which 40 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in detail. Nomophobia was observed among 15.2%-99.7% of the participants. Research findings indicated increased psychological, emotional, social, and physical side effects due to excessive smartphone use.

Conclusion

The excessive use of the smartphone is an emerging threat for social, mental, and physical health. There is an increased need for further research in this regard as it is evolving into an epidemic outbreak and concerns directly the field of public health.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Chinese Teachers during COVID-19 Pandemic: Roles of Fear of COVID-19, Nomophobia, and Psychological Distress

There are limited data concerning the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among teachers. Therefore, the present study estimated the prevalence of PTSD among mainland Chinese teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to construct a model with mediation and moderation effects to explain the PTSD. Data collection was conducted in schools in the Jiangxi province between October and November 2020 among k-12 schoolteachers. An online survey, including five different psychometric scales, was used to collect data. All participants were assessed for PTSD using the Chinese version of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Hayes' PROCESS Model 8 was used to examine the potential factors explaining a higher PTSD scores. A total of 2603 teachers from k-12 schools participated. With the cutoff score at 31, the prevalence of PTSD was 12.3% but decreased to 1.0% when the cutoff score was at 49. Nomophobia moderated the effects of Fear of COVID-19 Scale on PTSD. The findings suggest that fear of COVID-19 among teachers leads to PTSD via psychological distress, highlighting the moderating effect of nomophobia in this association. Based on the study's findings, psychological interventions and educational training are needed to reduce fear among teachers at higher risk of developing PTSD.

The relationship between the nomophobic levels of higher education students in Ghana and academic achievement

There is an upsurge in the use of mobile phones among higher education students in Ghana, which may result in the nomophobia prevalence with the students. Therefore, the need to assess the influence of nomophobia within the student population in Ghana. This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of nomophobia and the sociodemographic variables, and the association with academic achievement of the understudied population. A self-reporting nomophobia questionnaire, composed of 20 dimensions, was answered by 670 university students to measure the nomophobia prevalence. Raw data were estimated using descriptive statistics, and one-way ANOVA and Independent T-test. While the findings showed diverse grades of nomophobia, statistical significance between academic achievement and the level of nomophobia was observed. This study concludes that there is a high nomophobia prevalence among university students in Ghana as the use of smartphones increases. However, follow-up studies should be conducted in Ghanaian universities to monitor nomophobia and its associates in order to reduce the adverse effects of habitual use of smartphones.

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.

Nomophobia and the influence of time to REST among nursing students. A descriptive, correlational and predictive research

The inclusion of the smartphone in society has brought many advantages, but also disadvantages, such as nomophobia, considered as a digital disease generated by the excessive use of the smartphone. The general objective of the research is to know and analyse the prevalence of nomophobia among nursing students and knowing the influence of time to rest. The research design is descriptive, correlational, transversal and predictive with a quantitative research methodology. The sample consist of nursing students from the University of Granada (N = 880) in Spain. A descriptive analysis has been carried out, as well as a bivariate correlation of Pearson, the student T test and a multiple linear regression. The results show an average level of nomophobia among nursing students. Although the students can recognize that the use of the smartphone can reduce their rest period, mainly focused on the hours they spend sleeping, there is no significant relationship between the two facts, confirming also that the levels of nomophobia are significantly more related in those who claim not to have problems in their rest due to the use of the mobile phone. A large percentage of them claim to rest less time due to excessive use of their smartphone.

Smartphone addiction across the lifetime during Italian lockdown for COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Smartphone misuse, also known as Nomophobia is the fear of not being able to consult your own mobile phone, of not being connected or traceable. During the Italian lockdown caused by COVID-19, while the use of technology was the fundamental basis of adaptation for smart working, school and professional training, leading to a change in the population's lifestyle, smartphone dependency caused impaired social relationships. To date, the impact of smartphone dependency in men and women is unclear. We conducted this study with the hypothesis that a period of lockdown fosters the growth of a pathological use of the cell phone different in women and men.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this work is to investigate gender differences in the level of smartphone dependency in teens and adults during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The NoMobilePhobia-Questionnaire (NMP-Q) was presented online to 1264 participants between the ages of 15 and 67.

RESULTS

The results show no significant main effects for the two factors taken into account (Gender and Age of participants). However, the significant interaction shows that female participants reported on average higher scores on NMP-Q than males, [F_(4,1253) =7.06 and p<.001, observed power close to 1 (0.99) and effect size = 0.03 (ETA partial squared)] for the younger age group (15-44), while for those over the age of 44, the average highest scores were for male participants.

CONCLUSIONS

One of the "positive" aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the use of the Internet and smartphones, and our analysis aimed to document the frequency of use in the Italian context with the NMP-Q. However, we can also conclude that this research is relevant because it can give us a glimpse of the relationship between dependency and mental issues. The results reveal the risk in some of the Italian population of developing forms of smartphone dependency, especially in circumstances that prohibit direct social interactions.

Nomophobia is Associated with Insomnia but Not with Age, Sex, BMI, or Mobile Phone Screen Size in Young Adults

PURPOSE

NOMOPHOBIA (NO MObile PHone PhoBIA) or problematic smartphone use is a psychological disorder in which people are afraid of being cut off from their mobile phones. Currently, there has been no direct assessment of mobile phone screen size in the home setting and its effect on nomophobia and related symptoms, such as insomnia. Thus, we investigated the association between nomophobia, insomnia, and mobile phone screen size in a young adult population in Bahrain.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using a descriptive, cross-sectional design, we surveyed participants aged 18 to 35 between August and September 2020 using an online questionnaire. Participants completed demographic questions and questions about personal mobile phones, the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). The mobile phone screen size was determined using an open-source online database. Crude and adjusted regression analyses were fitted to examine the associations between the study variables.

RESULTS

A total of 549 individuals, 54% females, were included in the final analyses. One hundred and fourteen participants (21%) had severe nomophobia, and 81 (14%) had clinical insomnia. A strong positive pair-wise linear association was observed between NMP-Q and ISI β 0.15, P = 0.001. Age, sex, BMI, and mobile phone screen size showed no association with the NMP-Q.

CONCLUSION

Nomophobia is very prevalent in young adult men and women, and it is closely associated with insomnia, regardless of mobile phone screen size, suggesting that mobile phone screen size should not be used as a proxy for hazardous usage.

Digital Eye Strain Epidemic amid COVID-19 Pandemic - A Cross-sectional Survey

Purpose: There has been an enormous increase in the use of gadgets for online classes and entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of digital eye strain (DES), describe the pattern of gadget usage, and analyse the risk factors for DES.Methods: This online survey analysed 941 responses from students of online classes (688), teachers of online classes (45), and general population (208). A pre-validated questionnaire was used to calculate the DES score. Non-parametric tests of medians were used to compare the median DES score, Chi-square test to compare categorical variables, and binary logistic regression to find the predictors of DES.Results: The prevalence of eye strain was higher among students taking online classes compared to the general public (50.6% vs 33.2%; χ² = 22.5, df = 1, p < .0001). There was an increase in screen time during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic time. The DES score was highest among students attending online classes (p < .0001), in those with eye diseases (p = .001), greater screen time (p = <0.0001), screen distance <20 cm (p = .002), those who used gadgets in dark (p = .017) and those who took infrequent/no breaks (p = .018). The DES scores were proportional to the increase in the number of hours of gadget usage during the pandemic.Conclusion: There is a need to educate people about limiting overall screen exposure and ergonomic methods of screen viewing. Efforts from policymakers to reduce the duration of online classes for students and online work hours for professionals are warranted to control this epidemic of eye strain.

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.

An Assessment of Pharmacy Students' Psychological Attachment to Smartphones at Two Colleges of Pharmacy

Objective. To determine the prevalence of nomophobia, the discomfort or anxiety experienced from being without a cellphone, among student pharmacists. Methods. A validated nomophobia questionnaire (NMP-Q) was administered to two groups of student pharmacists at two different Doctor of Pharmacy programs (N=192). Demographic and other information was collected including identified gender, year of birth, type of smartphone, and use of messaging services. Scores on the NMP-Q were used to classify respondents as absent of nomophobia (<20), having mild nomophobia (21-59), having moderate nomophobia (60-99), or having severe nomophobia (>100 out of a maximum score of 140). Results. Of 224 eligible students, 192 (85.7%) responded to the survey. Mean nomophobia scores were statistically similar between programs. Most students' scores were within the moderate nomophobia range (56.8%), while 24.5% were in the mild range and 18.2% were in the severe range. Score classifications were similar between schools. Overall, the data showed good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of .95 for the combined group. Conclusion. Nomophobia is a relatively new psychological phenomenon, and little is known about its potential implications. The student pharmacists in our study all had NMP-Q scores consistent with some degree of nomophobia. Educators must continue to study smartphone use and help student pharmacists maximize the benefits of smartphones while avoiding the potential negative psychological consequences associated with their use.

Nomophobia and its relationship with depression, anxiety, and quality of life in adolescents

BACKGROUND

Nomophobia is a portmanteau for "no mobile phone" and phobia or mobile phone addiction. Nomophobia refers to discomfort, anxiety, nervousness, or anguish caused by being out of contact with a mobile phone. There is a paucity of literature from India on this emerging mental health condition.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of nomophobia and its relationship with depression, anxiety, and quality of life among adolescent students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out in 1386 high school students aged between 14 and 17 years. The Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) was used to assess nomophobia. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) were used to measure depression, anxiety, and quality of life, respectively.

RESULTS

Out of 1386 adolescents, 569 (41.05%), 303 (21.86%), and 82 (5.1%) have mild, moderate, and severe nomophobia, respectively. There were significantly more males with nomophobia. There was a statistically significant relationship between NMP-Q score and BDI, BAI, and SF-36 scores. A significant positive correlation was observed between NMP-Q score and scores on BDI and BAI and a significant negative correlation between SF-36 score.

CONCLUSION

The results of the study indicate that nomophobia is an emerging mental health condition, especially in male adolescents. Nomophobia is significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and poor quality of life. Multicentric studies are needed to better understand this disorder.

The Relationship Between Nomophobia and Maladaptive Coping Styles in a Sample of Italian Young Adults: Insights and Implications From a Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Information technologies have become an integral part of the modern society; however, it is speculated that their overuse would result in addiction. Nomophobia refers to the irrational fear of being out of contact with virtual communication platforms. Generally, upon exposure to stress, humans adjust by employing cognitive mechanisms and behavioral efforts known as coping strategies.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of the research was to explore coping styles implemented in subjects with nomophobia.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study involving young adult participants (undergraduate students and younger subjects) who were recruited via an online survey using a snowball approach. The Italian version of the Nomophobia Questionnaire was administered to subjects. The measurement of coping styles was done using the 28-item Brief COPE questionnaire. Continuous data were computed as means and standard deviations, whereas categorical data were expressed as percentages, where appropriate. Correlation analysis was performed between the Nomophobia Questionnaire and Brief COPE scores. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted in order to shed light on the determinants of each coping style and its association with nomophobia.

RESULTS

A total of 403 subjects took part in the study. Subjects with higher nomophobia scores responded when confronted with stress with behavioral disengagement (r=.16, P<.001), denial (r=.19, P<.001), self-blame (r=.12, P=.02), self-distraction (r=.22, P<.001), venting (r=.28, P<.001), use of emotional (r=.25, P<.001), and instrumental support (r=.16, P=.001).

CONCLUSION

Nomophobia subjects adopt maladaptive coping strategies when confronted with stress. The acknowledgment of how nomophobia subjects react provides insight and introduces a focus for preventative and interventional measures in this population.

Impact of nomophobia: A nondrug addiction among students of physiotherapy course using an online cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Smartphone addiction is known as nomophobia (NMP) which is a fear of not using mobile phone. More researches are available regarding NMP among the students of various professions. However, till date, to the best of our knowledge, there is no literature available on the impact of NMP on the academic performance among students pursuing physiotherapy course (SPPC).

AIM

To determine the impact of NMP among SPPC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An online cross-sectional survey was conducted by using Google Form platform utilizing validated NMP questionnaires (NMP-Q). A self-reported questionnaire regarding demographic data, information regarding smartphone use, last academic performance, and presence of musculoskeletal disorders was collected. A total of 157 students participated in this survey. Google Form automatically analyzed the collected data.

RESULTS

The mean age of students was 22.2 ± 3.2 years; among them, 42.9% were male and 57.1% were female. Nearly 45% of students have been using smartphone for >5 years and 54% students have musculoskeletal disorders during their prolonged smartphone use. The mean NMP score with 95% confidence interval was 77.6 (72.96-82.15). There exists an inverse relation between the NMP scores (NMPS) and student's academic performance and no significant difference between NMP scores, P = 0.152.

CONCLUSION

NMP among the SPPC have been established. There might be a negative impact between NMP and academic performance.