Prevalence of Nomophobia and Analysis of Its Contributing Factors among Higher Education Students

INTRODUCTION

In the present day, it is common for young people to possess or have access to a smartphone with Internet connectivity. Smartphones are attractive and advanced, providing a plethora of digital information, features, and entertainment. However, there is growing concern about the psychological challenges faced by many young people, namely “nomophobia (NMP).” Nomophobia is a term derived from the phrase “no mobile phone phobia” and describes the anxiety or fear associated with being disconnected from one’s mobile phone.¹ The modern era has given rise to a phobia characterized by an intense sense of anxiety or unease when an individual is unable to utilize their smartphone or avail themselves of its services.²

People who display nomophobic tendencies experience anxiety in situations where they have forgotten their mobile phones, have a low battery charge, or lack network coverage. As a result, this heightened sense of anxiety can negatively impact their ability to concentrate and carry out their daily tasks.³ Many individuals who experience NMP also report experiencing “rinxiety” or “Phantom vibration syndrome,” which refers to a false sensation of their mobile phones ringing. This condition has been shown to have negative effects on the mental well-being of mobile phone users. Owing to the severity of the impact, there have been proposals to include NMP in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition.⁴

The symptoms of NMP can also be attributed to preexisting mental disorders such as social phobia, social anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder.⁵ Nomophobia can have detrimental effects on an individual’s mental health and social relationships, causing them to be physically present but mentally absent due to their dependence on their mobile phones. The urge to constantly check and answer calls or messages can also cause work-related problems, as it can diminish attention and focus, leading to decreased work performance, longer working hours, and increased stress levels, which can ultimately impair mental health over time.⁶ Studies have demonstrated that technology use can improve multitasking abilities, enhance learning and cognitive processing, foster intellectual development, and enhance verbal or visuoperceptual performance, wellness, and quick decision-making skills. However, it can also have negative effects, such as increasing narcissism, diminishing cognitive capacity and intelligence, impairing memory and concentration, and delaying the development of effective strategies for organizing and retaining information.⁷ Despite the negative effects of technology use, during the COVID-19 pandemic, people found it helpful in staying connected with others and maintaining their physical and mental well-being. However, excessive use of technology during this time also had a detrimental impact on their relationships.⁸

PREVALENCE OF NMP

Research has shown that college students are particularly susceptible to NMP,^9–11 with rates varying between 18.5 and 73%. The prevalence of this condition can be influenced by a variety of factors including age, gender, self-image, self-esteem, self-efficacy, impulsivity, and extroversion.¹² People who suffer from NMP may experience uneasiness when switching off their mobile phones or when they are separated from them, even at night. They might also carry additional devices such as chargers, batteries, or extra phones as a preventive measure in case of battery drain, lost connectivity, or phone loss.⁹

Studies have indicated that a significant proportion of individuals experiencing NMP utilize their smartphones to watch videos on platforms such as YouTube or WhatsApp to help them sleep. Additionally, a considerable percentage of these individuals keep their phones within close proximity, with roughly 72% unable to distance themselves from their devices by more than 5 feet.¹³ The prevalence of NMP seems to be comparable across both developed and developing countries, with estimates ranging from 77 to 99%. Young adults seem to be particularly susceptible to experiencing NMP.¹³

Compared with other subpopulations, college students tend to be highly proficient in using smartphones¹⁴ and rely on them for even the simplest daily tasks.¹⁵ They spend a significant amount of time using their devices and tend to excessively use them for a variety of purposes, such as watching the news, staying socially connected, completing academic tasks, playing games, shopping, and searching for information.¹⁶ Among the various smartphone applications, search engines like Google and social media platforms are the most commonly used tools for obtaining information, staying socially connected, completing academic work, and entertainment purposes.¹⁷

According to a study, college students are more susceptible to NMP than working professionals, and 100% of smartphone owners exhibit some degree of NMP.¹⁸ The study also found that NMP is linked to the fear of missing out as many young people build their social lives and identities around their smartphone use, seeking external validation and recognition from others. However, the study also revealed that NMP tends to decrease with age, while the frequency of smartphone usage has the opposite effect, with higher usage frequency being associated with increased levels of NMP.

According to the findings, almost all of the students surveyed (99.33%) experienced NMP, with the majority exhibiting a moderate level of severity. Although those who had severe NMP had lower academic performance, the correlation between NMP and academic performance did not demonstrate statistical significance (p = 0.706).¹⁹ Similarly, the study revealed that there was a negative association between Nomophobia Scale (NMPS) and students’ academic performance, but there was no notable distinction between NMP scores (p = 0.152).²⁰

Given the widespread use and reliance on smartphones, it is plausible to assume that NMP is a prevalent issue in the society. While the literature on NMP is relatively new, a significant number of studies have confirmed this assumption. This is particularly relevant for higher education students, who will be future teachers and role models for future generations. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prevalence of NMP and examine its underlying factors among higher education students.

OBJECTIVES

• To study the prevalence of NMP among college students

• To study the gender differences in NMP among college students

• To compare the NMP among college students of different educational levels (undergraduate, UG and postgraduate, PG)

• To compare the NMP among college students of different disciplines (Science, Arts, Engineering, and Medical)

• To study the relationships between NMP and the duration of smartphone ownership

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

The results of this study have been presented using tables and graphs and discussed under various headings like demographic characteristics of the participants, mean score, frequency distribution and descriptive analysis of NMP, and the relationship between the variables.

Table 1 presents the results of the demographic characteristics of the participants, like gender, education, area of study, and duration of smartphone ownership.

The mean age of the participants was 22.82 (SD = 3.14) years (Table 2).

DISCUSSION

The main focus of this study was to examine NMP among college students. The analysis of the student demographics revealed that out of the total participants (N = 200), 61% (n = 122) were female and 39% (n = 78) were male. Additionally, 52% (n = 104) of the participants were UGs, and 48% (n = 96) were PGs. Furthermore, 56.5% (n = 113) of the students were pursuing Arts-related courses, 12% (n = 24) were pursuing engineering, 17% (n = 34) were medical students, and the remaining 14.5% (n = 29) were pursuing other Science-related courses. In terms of smartphone usage, 3.5% (n = 7) of students were using smartphones for less than one year, 17.5% (n = 35) were using smartphones for 1–2 years, 21% (n = 42) were using smartphones for 2–3 years, 18.5% (n = 37) were using smartphones for 3–4 years, 14% (n = 28) were using smartphones for 4–5 years, and 25.5% (n = 51) were using smartphones for more than 5 years. The study by Than and Shan²¹ also reported moderate-to-severe levels of NMP among students at the Sagaing University of Education. Furthermore, Essel et al.²² found a high prevalence of NMP among university students in Ghana as the use of smartphones increased.

The descriptive analysis of NMP among male and female participants showed that the mean score of male participants (n = 78) was 92.90 (SD = 23.74), whereas the mean score of female participants (n = 122) was 88.18 (SD = 24.92) on the NMPS. Although male participants displayed slightly higher levels of NMP than female participants, the t-test results indicated that there was no significant difference between the two groups (t = 1.33, p > 0.05). Similarly, Than and Shan²¹ discovered no noteworthy disparity in NMP based on the gender of students. A study by Toda et al.²³ demonstrated that males mainly utilized mobile phones for making calls, while females used them for internet services.

The descriptive analysis of NMP among UG and PG students showed that the mean score of UG students (n = 104) was 85.64 (SD = 24.41), whereas the mean score of PG students (n = 96) was 94.76 (SD = 94.76) on the NMPS. This indicates that PG students had comparatively higher NMP than UG students. t-Test revealed a significant difference in NMP between UG and PG students (t = –2.667, p < 0.01).

The descriptive analysis of NMP based on the area of study of the students showed that the mean score of Arts students (n = 113) was 89.88 (SD = 24.64), the mean score of Engineering students (n = 24) was 89.92 (SD = 28.67), the mean score of Medical students (n = 34) was 92.44 (SD = 22.64), and the mean score of Science students (n = 29) was 87.83 (SD = 23.47). This indicates that Medical students had higher NMP and other Science students had the lowest NMP. Analysis of variance revealed no significant difference in NMP among Arts, Engineering, Medical, and Science students (F = 0.187, p > 0.05).

Pearson’s correlation coefficient between age and NMP indicated a strong and significant positive relationship among students (r = 0.227, p < 0.01). However, no significant correlation was found between the duration of smartphone ownership and NMP among students (r = –0.064, p > 0.05). Setia and Tiwari¹⁸ reported that as individuals grow, their level of NMP tends to decrease, while their frequency of smartphone usage increases. In contrast, Yildirim et al.²⁴ found no significant differences in the levels of NMP between university students aged 18–20 years and those aged 20 years or older.

CONCLUSION

The study findings indicate that 12% of the participants exhibited mild NMP, 48% had a moderate level, and 40% had severe NMP. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that male participants had higher levels of NMP compared with female, and PG students exhibited higher levels of NMP than UG students. Additionally, Medical students had higher levels of NMP, while other Science-related students had the lowest levels. Although no significant difference was found between male and female participants (t = 1.33, p > 0.05), a significant difference in NMP was found between UG and PG students (t= –2.667, p < 0.01). The ANOVA test did not reveal any significant difference in NMP among students of Arts, Engineering, Medical, and Science courses (F = 0.187, p > 0.05). Interestingly, the analysis showed a strong significant positive correlation (r = 0.227, p < 0.01) between age and NMP among the participants. These findings underscore the need for interventions to help college students manage their smartphone usage and mitigate the negative consequences of NMP.

IMPLICATIONS

• The results of this study can provide valuable insights for faculty and administrators to develop preventive strategies aimed at addressing potential issues and enhancing the physical and academic well-being of students.

• The findings of this study may draw the attention of mental health professionals to the mental health challenges encountered by college students.

• This study will help convince college administrators to design special training programs that can help reduce NMP and enhance the well-being of the students.

• This study will help find innovative solutions to the mental health problems faced by college students due to excessive smartphone use, leading to NMP.

LIMITATIONS

This study has the following delimitations and limitations:

• The results of this study cannot be generalized as the sample size for the study covered only 200 college students.

• The study was confined to college students of Delhi-NCR.

• The data were collected online using Google Forms, hence the data collected cannot be trusted 100%.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE STUDY

As it is not possible and practical to touch on every aspect of a problem, it is important to put forward some suggestions for further studies:

• The study can be conducted by taking a larger sample, including college students from other regions.

• Similar studies can be conducted by using different psychological scales.

• The role of the family environment in NMP can also be explored.

• The effects of NMP on academic achievement can also be explored in depth.

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