Nomophobia and its relation to social anxiety, sleep, and personality in medical students

ABSTRACT Background: Nomophobia, also known as “no-mobile-phone phobia,” is the term used to characterize the dread that people feel when they are separated from their mobile phones, which makes it difficult for them to interact. Aim: To study Nomophobia and its relation to social anxiety, sleep, and personality in medical students. Materials and Methods: In a medical college, a cross-sectional survey of undergraduate, graduate, and super specialty students was undertaken. Consenting students were interviewed using a self-made questionnaire. The Nomophobia questionnaire (NMP-Q), Liebowitz social anxiety scale (LSAS), short big five personality questionnaire (BFI-10), and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) were applied to all participants. Data was analyzed by SPSS 20. Results: The study examined 199 students and revealed that 68.34% had moderate to severe Nomophobia. Age significantly influenced Nomophobia severity, particularly among those aged 21-25. Significant positive correlations were found between NMP-Q, LSAS Fear, LSAS Avoidance, and ESS, indicating that higher non-motor peripheral symptoms were associated with increased social anxiety and daytime sleepiness. Most participants exhibited some level of social anxiety, with marked and moderate cases being common. Regression analysis showed that social anxiety (fear and avoidance) significantly predicted NMP-Q scores, highlighting the relationship between social anxiety and Nomophobia. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of Nomophobia among medical students, with two-thirds experiencing moderate to severe levels of Nomophobia. Key factors influencing Nomophobia are age, years of medical education, and stress levels. There was a strong correlation between Nomophobia and social anxiety, personality traits, and daytime drowsiness. Social anxiety (fear and avoidance) were significant predictors of Nomophobia. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address Nomophobia, considering its impact on student’s mental health and academic performance.