Association Between Nomophobia and Text Neck Syndrome in Students in Lahore: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Text neck syndrome, caused by prolonged forward head posture while using mobile devices, is a growing concern among young adults. Nomophobia, the fear of being without a mobile phone, is another emerging issue linked to excessive smartphone use.Objective: To determine the association between text neck syndrome and nomophobia among university students.Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 314 university students aged 18-25 years in Lahore, selected through non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q). Participants with traumatic neck injuries or neurological disorders were excluded. Data analysis was performed using SPSS Version 25, with descriptive statistics and Chi-Square tests applied to evaluate the association between variables.Results: The mean NDI score was 0.58 ± 0.495, and the mean NMP-Q score was 2.19 ± 0.639. A significant association was found between neck disability and nomophobia (p = 0.041), with 57.6% of participants showing moderate nomophobia and 57.6% reporting neck disability.Conclusion: There is a significant association between text neck syndrome and nomophobia, indicating that excessive mobile phone use negatively impacts both physical and psychological health among university students.