A recent study published in the Archives of Psychiatric Nursing has shed light on a modern-day anxiety disorder called nomophobia, which is the fear of being without a mobile phone. The research found that young adults who experience higher levels of social appearance anxiety and loneliness are more likely to suffer from nomophobia.
The study involved 687 participants aged 20-40 living in Turkey and used a structured questionnaire to collect data. The results showed that young adults had a moderate level of nomophobia, with an average score of 73.76 on the Nomophobia Scale.
Social appearance anxiety emerged as a significant predictor of nomophobia, suggesting that individuals who are self-conscious about their appearance might rely on their phones as a means of social connection and reassurance. Emotional loneliness, particularly in romantic relationships, was also found to be linked to nomophobia, with participants using their smartphones to alleviate feelings of isolation.
The study employed multiple linear regression analysis to predict nomophobia levels and found that social appearance anxiety and social and emotional loneliness collectively explained 8% of the variance in nomophobia levels. Emotional loneliness predicted nomophobia negatively, suggesting that those who are lonely might use their phones to bridge social gaps, thereby increasing their reliance on the device and their fear of being without it.
The findings highlight the interplay between smartphone dependency and psychosocial factors and suggest that interventions aimed at reducing social appearance anxiety and addressing emotional loneliness could potentially mitigate nomophobia. Mental health professionals may consider incorporating strategies to boost self-esteem and improve social skills in their treatment plans, helping individuals become less dependent on their smartphones for emotional support and social connection.
Source: https://www.psypost.org/people-with-a-high-level-of-social-appearance-anxiety-have-higher-nomophobia-levels-study-finds/