A Scoping Review of Interventions for the Management of Nomophobia

Nomophobia, or "no-mobile-phone-phobia", refers to the anxiety and apprehension arisingfrom the inability to have constant access to mobile phones due to various reasons. In a worldwhere digital modes of communication and socialisation are becoming the norm and people are finding it increasingly difficult to survive without their phones, nomophobia is emerging as one severe consequence. This scoping review seeks to understand the breadth of the existing literature surrounding the interventions for nomophobia, along with understanding its formats, components, scales used, theoretical framework and outcomes. The search included studies published in English from 2008 to 2025 that assessed nomophobia as an outcome using standardised measures. A total of 4,828 records were identified, of which 12 articles met the inclusion criteria. The authors adopted the JBI framework to structure the scoping review. The included studies primarily focused on the young adult population. The interventions were grouped into mindfulness-based, psychoeducation, app-based, and multi-component, combining various techniques. Most of the interventions were administered in groups and in-person formats. The Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMQ) was the most commonly used tool. Results revealed the need for designing primary and secondary preventive measures and long-term follow-ups. The review highlights the critical need for interventions focused on nomophobia since it is still nascent. The interventions are focused on limited populations and are limited in scope. Given the public mental implications of this increasingly pressing concern, this study shows the urgent need for culturally adaptable interventions to foster healthier digital habits and overall well-being.