The Relationship between Levels of Nomophobia Prevalence and Internet Addiction among High School Students: the factors influencing Nomophobia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between nomophobia levels of high school students and their Internet Addiction. This study also investigates the factors including duration of smartphone and mobile Internet use that trigger and create this phenomenon. In order to explore the prevalence of nomophobia among high school students, the survey model was adopted in this study. As part of this survey, 929 high school students were randomly selected among 9th to 12th graders from Turkish high schools in different socioeconomic areas of Afyon, Ankara, and Mardin provinces. In the data collection process, a demographics questionnaire was employed, as well as a nomophobia scale and Internet addiction scale. According to the results, the nomophobia levels of high school students were found to be slightly above average. Pertaining to gender differences, female students have a higher tendency to exhibit nomophobic behaviors compared to male students. Additionally, students' grade levels (which could also be considered as age) has no effect on the prevalence of nomophobia. Considering the duration of smartphone ownership, it was found that the longer the duration of smartphone usage, the higher the risk of exhibiting nomophobic behaviors. Finally, the results indicated that the higher the level of student Internet addiction, the more nomophobic behaviors they tend to exhibit.

Nomophobia: mobile phone dependence among students of a medical college in Central Odisha, India

“…The four factors of NMP were assessed and a higher mean was found with factor 3 i.e., not being able to access information with a mean score of 27.5±7.38. Similar findings were seen in studies by Dasgupta et al and Gezgin et al 6,12 Students using cell phones for definite purposes such as sharing pictures, playing games, using cellphones for navigation and online educative material were significantly at a lesser risk for being nomophobic. Students as high as 8 out of 10 responded that cellphones are absolutely necessary in academics.…”

“…Gezgin et al and Pavithra et al reported no significant association between year of study (grades of study or academic sessions) and nomophobia which was contrary to the finding of our study. 11,12 This could probably be due to more freedom and less vigilance of parents for the grown up kids and also longer duration of usage of cell phones with increasing age.…”

The learning curve.

“…These result are consistent with Gezgin, Cakir, and Yildirim (2018), who found on a sample of high school students that the higher the level of student's internet addiction, the more nomophobic behaviors they tended to exhibit. Another research study links the mediator effect of mindfulness awareness to the relationship between nomophobia and adjustment levels in college students.…”

The Relationship between Nomophobia and Loneliness among Turkish Adolescents

“…For this reason, nomophobia is considered as a modern age phobia that is introduced to our lives as a byproduct of the interaction between people and mobile information and communication technologies, especially smartphones (Yildirim & Correia, 2015, p. 130). The increased use of mobile internet results in increased levels of nomophobia (Gezgin, Cakir, & Yildirim, 2017).…”