Indirect Association Between Neuroticism and Nomophobia Through Digital Stress: The Conditional Role of Emotion Management Skills

Background: Nomophobia is increasingly common and may impair daily functioning, academic performance, and social relationships. Although neuroticism has been linked to nomophobia, the role of digital stress in this association remains unclear. This study examined the indirect association between neuroticism and nomophobia through digital stress and whether emotion management skills moderated the digital stress–nomophobia association. Methods: Data were obtained from 434 undergraduate students using self-report measures. Hypotheses were tested with PROCESS Macro Model 14 in SPSS, controlling for gender and using bootstrap confidence intervals. Results: Neuroticism was associated with higher digital stress, and higher digital stress was associated with greater nomophobia. A significant statistical indirect effect of neuroticism on nomophobia through digital stress was observed, whereas the direct association between neuroticism and nomophobia was not statistically significant after digital stress was included in the model. Emotion management skills showed a small but statistically significant moderating effect on the digital stress–nomophobia association; however, the observed pattern was not protective. The association between digital stress and nomophobia was slightly stronger among students with higher emotion management skills. Conclusions: The findings support a statistical indirect association between neuroticism and nomophobia involving digital stress. Because the data were cross-sectional, the results do not establish temporal ordering or a causal mediation mechanism.