This study aimed to assess nomophobia (NMP), a condition of fear of being without a mobile phone, among college students who are the main users of mobile phones. It is observed that students try to explore the features and applications of a new invention and feel the need to stay connected with their peers constantly, leading to addiction.
Data from 200 college students were collected using Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q). This study showed that 12% of the participants had a mild level of NMP, 48% had a moderate level of NMP, and 40% had severe NMP.
The male participants had comparatively higher NMP than female participants; postgraduate (PG) students had comparatively higher NMP than undergraduate (UG) students; Medical students had higher NMP; and other Science students had the lowest NMP. t-test revealed no significant difference in NMP between male and female participants (t = 1.33, p > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in NMP between UG and PG students (t =-2.667, p < 0.01).
Analysis of variance test revealed no significant difference in NMP among Arts, Engineering, Medical, and Science students (F = 0.187, p >0.05). Pearson’s correlation coefficient of age and NMP showed a strong significant positive relationship between age and NMP of the students (r = 0.227, p < 0.01).
These findings suggest that there is a need for innovative solutions to address the mental health challenges faced by college students due to excessive smartphone use. Educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers can use these findings to develop effective interventions and programs to address NMP and its impact on mental health.
