Analysis of the Association between Nomophobia and Anxiety in Eighth Semester Medical Students of the Universidad Regional del Sureste

The technological transformation of recent decades has radically changed how people access and process information, especially by integrating smartphones into everyday life. This phenomenon has brought with it both benefits and challenges, among which the emergence of nomophobia, as well as associated anxiety symptoms, stand out. The study was conducted with eighth semester medical students at the Universidad Regional del Sureste. The target population included all the students of that academic cycle, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria to guarantee its homogeneity. Two validated instruments were used for data collection: the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Data processing was carried out by descriptive and correlational statistical analysis, respecting the ethical principles of confidentiality. The results showed that 94.4% of the students evaluated presented some degree of nomophobia, manifesting behaviors such as compulsive telephone checking. It was identified that 66.5% of the participants reported clinically significant levels of anxiety. Statistical analysis showed a positive and significant relationship between levels of nomophobia and anxiety. There is a high prevalence of nomophobia and anxiety in medical students; it should be considered necessary to implement strategies for the prevention and management of excessive use of mobile devices, as well as to strengthen psychoemotional support in medical training.