A descriptive study to assess the attitude towards nomophobia, autophobia and atychiphobia in online class among selected college going girl students of Patna, Bihar

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, education worldwide transitioned from traditional methods to various innovative teaching strategies. Recent advancements in technology have significantly altered the educational landscape, with conventional in-person classes increasingly being supplemented or replaced by online courses across various digital platforms. This study aims to explore the extent of nomophobia in the online class, explore the extent of autophobia in the online class and explore the extent of atychiphobia in the online class. Using a purposive sampling method, 500 girl students from three colleges in Patna district were selected, specifically those who had participated in both online and offline classes. A Likert scale was employed for the research design, and the findings from the data analysis revealed that 55.6% of the students were aged 17-19, with 63.4% enrolled in undergraduate programs and 36.6% in master's courses. Most participants were students from the 2022-2024 cohort. The study concluded that a majority of students rely on mobile data for their classes, predominantly conducted via the Zoom app. Additionally, 43.3% of students disagreed that online classes provide a solid grasp of practical knowledge. Furthermore, 39% acknowledged that prolonged use of devices like mobile phones, laptops, and iPads leads to fatigue and irritability. Notably, 33.2% of students fully agreed that internet connectivity issues result in audio-visual problems, complicating their understanding of online lessons, which in turn affects their psychological health. The study identified three phobias among students: 40.60% with moderate nomophobia, 55% with mild autophobia, and 63.8% suffering from severe atychiphobia. Additionally, psychological health impacts were observed, with 56.8% of students experiencing mild anxiety, and 64.4% facing mild depression and stress.