Acute Nomophobia and Its Psychological Correlates in Adolescents: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Approach

Nomophobia is a recent medical term; it is a combination of "no-mobile" and "phobia". Nomophobia encompasses feelings of fear, anxiety, and discomfort stemming from the absence of a mobile device or the inability to access one, when necessary, as well as the apprehension of disconnection from the digital realm. It's correlated with many psychological problems.

This study aimed to explore the impact of nomophobia and its psychological correlates, particularly stress, loneliness, and depression, among adolescents.

Explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used. A sample of 180 students were participated. They completed the Nomophobia Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and UCLA Loneliness Scale, followed by semi-structured interviews with 30 students exhibiting high levels of nomophobia.

The study found that the majority of students (76.7%) exhibited high levels of nomophobia, with a higher prevalence among females (78.72%) compared to males (69.76%). Students reported high levels of stress (mean = 32.96, SD = 1.35) and social loneliness (mean = 67.9, SD = 4.17), while depression levels were low (mean = 7.03, SD = 4.1). Female students experienced higher levels of stress and loneliness than their male counterparts. Stress and social loneliness were identified as significant predictors of nomophobia, with positive associations (coefficients: 1.64 and 1.20, respectively) and strong correlations (R² = 0.93 and 0.98, p = 0.01). Depression showed a negative but non-significant association with nomophobia (-0.43, p = 0.06). The qualitative results reveal four major themes: compulsive phone behaviors, emotional issues, health concerns, and behavioral problems.

Nomophobia significantly affects the emotional, physical, and social health of students, highlighting the necessity for specific strategies aimed at addressing smartphone addiction and fostering more positive digital behaviors within this age group.