The Relationship between Nomophobia and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Levels of University Students

Abstract

In today's world, smartphones are an indispensable part of people's daily lives because smartphones facilitate daily routines. However, problematic or excessive use of smartphones can cause some psychological problems. Nomophobia is considered as one of the psychological problems caused by excessive use of smartphones. Nomophobia is referred to as modern age phobia and refers to irrational fears and anxieties of a person who cannot access or communicate with their mobile phone. Therefore, this study examines the prevalence of nomophobia among college students, behavioral patterns associated with nomophobia, and reveals the relationship between nomophobia and depression-anxiety-stress. A personal questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress (DASS-42) and Nomophobia (NMP-Q) scales were used to investigate the research questions. . Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), independent samples t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and simple linear regression methods were used to analyze the data. The results show that the level of nomophobia among college students is higher than average. There were significant differences between the level of nomophobia and the college students' behaviors such as carrying a charger, checking the smartphone after waking up, checking the phone frequently during the day, the duration of daily smartphone use, and the time of internet use through the smartphone. A positive correlation was found between nomophobia and depression-anxiety-stress level. Finally, in the regression analysis, the model was found to be statistically significant. This result shows that the level of nomophobia is a significant predictor of the level of depressionand anxiety stress. The results obtained show that nomophobia has negative impact on mental health.

The relationship between nomophobia and psychological distress in Tunisian students: The moderating effect of physical activity

“…As for the direct effect, our ndings expand the existing knowledge by providing further support for the positive association between nomophobia and depression, anxiety and stress. In agreement with our results, Tolan and Karahan [10] and Kubrusly et al [57] found a positive correlation between higher nomophobia scores and more severe depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms as assessed by the DASS scale among university students [10,57]. In many studies, nomophobia has been associated with both depression and stress [7,58,59].…”

“…Nomophobia is considered a frequent and emerging problem among university students worldwide [2][3][4][5], and has potential negative impact on their mental health and well-being [2,[6][7][8][9]. Some studies have shown potential association between nomophobia and negative mental health (anxiety, stress and depression) [10][11][12]. For instance, Tolan and Karahan [10], discovered a positive association between university students' levels of nomophobia and their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, implying that nomophobia was related to poorer mental health.…”

“…Some studies have shown potential association between nomophobia and negative mental health (anxiety, stress and depression) [10][11][12]. For instance, Tolan and Karahan [10], discovered a positive association between university students' levels of nomophobia and their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, implying that nomophobia was related to poorer mental health. Similarly, studies from Lebanon and Saudi Arabia have found positive correlations between nomophobia and psychological conditions, i.e., a substantial link between high levels of anxiety and a higher probability of having severe nomophobia [7,11,13].…”

Prevalence of Nomophobia and Its Association with Academic Performance Among Physiotherapy Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross- Sectional Survey

“…Studies have revealed that levels of depression and anxiety are significant indicators of the nomophobia score among university students. 52 , 53 In a study conducted by Kim et al, students frequently used their phones for extended periods to counteract the negative impacts of depression. 54 According to Green et al, individuals who are addicted to using their smartphones excessively are more likely to experience depression, which exposes them to psychosocial distress.…”

Nomophobia May Increase the Risk of Anxiety, Depression, and Social Isolation

“…7 Tolan et al, studied the relationship between the nomophobia levels of university students and their Depression-Anxiety-Stress Levels using Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-42) and found a positive correlation between nomophobia and depression-anxiety-stress levels. 8 The prevalence of nomophobia is increasing among the youngster which is an alarming condition that needs to be addressed. Dixit et al 2009 reported that about 73% of students kept their mobile phones for 24 × 7 hr and 20% of students stressed when they do not have their mobile phones or their mobile batteries is drained.…”