Validation of the very efficient nomophobia short-form questionnaire in Chinese

Nomophobia is a situational phobia triggered by the inability to use a smartphone or the thought of being unable to use it. It is closely associated with problematic smartphone use, anxiety and depression. The Nomophobia Questionnaire Short-Form (NMPQ-SF) serves as an efficient and reliable instrument for measuring nomophobia. This study aimed to adapt the NMPQ-SF and validate its psychometric properties among Chinese adults.

The Chinese version of NMPQ-SF (NMPQ-SFC) was culturally adapted via forward-backward translation, cognitive interviews, and expert panel review. A total of 919 participants (57.6% female, aged 18-63 years, M_age = 29.44) completed the online survey. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested the factorial structure, while measurement invariance was examined across gender groups using multi-group CFA. Convergent and discriminant validity were also assessed and nomological validity was examined via correlations between NMPQ-SFC scores and fear of missing out (FoMO), short-video addiction (SVA), and depression.

CFA results showed that the second-order factor model better reflected the factor structure of the NMPQ-SFC and displayed excellent fit indices (RMSEA = 0.037, CFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.989, SRMR = 0.017). Measurement invariance analyses confirmed that the NMPQ-SFC functions equivalently across gender, enabling valid comparisons between males and females. Convergent validity (AVE = 0.55-0.68; second‑order AVE = 0.53) and discriminant validity (Pearson's rs < 0.80) were established. Significant correlations with FoMO, SVA, and depression further provided evidence for its nomological validity.

Our findings confirm that NMPQ-SFC is a reliable and psychometrically valid tool for assessing nomophobia among Chinese adults, enhancing its practical applicability in the Chinese context.