A Study to Assess the Knowledge and Effect of Nomophobia Among

Students of Selected Degree Colleges in Mysore

Nidhin Abraham¹,Janet Mathias²,Sheela Williams³

Principal JSS College of Nursing, Mysore Karnataka

*Corresponding Author Email: sivavimal.guru@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Nomophobia is a new term, defined as the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. People, especially teenagers get very anxious when they lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit or due to less network coverage. The ignorance of the disadvantage among adolescents has led to a long way of health hazards. So, it is best to sensitize and alert them regarding the ill effects of nomophobia, which prevents them from further risks.

Aims and objectives: This study was aimed to assess the mobile phone dependence, knowledge, effect of nomophobia and to determine the relationship between knowledge and effect of nomophobia with their selected personal variables.

Approach and design: An exploratory survey approach was used in this study.

Sample and sampling criteria: The sample consisted of 200 degree college students who were in the age group of 18 – 23 years were selected by Non probability purposive sampling technique.

Tools and technique: Tools consisted of Proforma for selected personal variables, self- administered structured knowledge questionnaire about nomophobia, rating scale to assess the effect of nomophobia.

Results: The majority (83%) of the sample were 18 – 20 years of age; 41.5% of them were interested in mobile/ computer games and chat and 59.5% of the sample were never heard the term nomophobia. Karl Pearson’s coefficient was used to determine the correlation between knowledge and effect of nomophobia, where the obtained r₍₁₉₈₎= 0.61 suggested that, inadequate knowledge will lead to increased effect of nomophobia.

The Chi-square analysis revealed that knowledge about nomophobia among degree college students were found to be associated with variables viz. age, gender, monthly income, average duration of mobile phone use per day, reaction towards mobile phone damage, number of times one checks the mobile phone per day, awareness about the health hazards of mobile phone and those who carry mobile phone charger with them at 0.05 level of significance, hence, it was inferred that, these personal variables influence the knowledge of degree college students i.e. they had more knowledge about nomophobia. The results also revealed that, there was significant association between the effect of nomophobia and selected personal variables, wherein, it was evident that those who had a family income of less than Rs. 5000 per month, age at which first started to use their own mobile phone between 15 – 18 years and those who check their mobile phone more than 20 times a day had more effect of nomophobia.

Conclusion: Thus, it was concluded that majority (89.5%) of the degree college students had poor knowledge and half (51%) of them had moderate effect of nomophobia. This emphasises the urgent need to sensitize and alert them regarding the ill effects of mobile phone use, which prevents them from further risks of nomophobia.

KEY WORDS: Dependence, effect, knowledge, nomophobia

INTRODUCTION:

Pigeons, letters and later, telegraphs were the means of communication till the revolution of telephone.¹Today is an era of wireless communication through mobile phones.

Now it is necessary for everyone to keep in touch with family, business associates and access to e-mail and internet. Advance in technology changed the trend completely and made mobile phone as storage for data, camera, and music player and also as a gaming device.²

Worldwide technology and its changes play a major role in each individual’s life. The current trend of the society is to adopt every change in the field of communication technology. The mobile phones are boon of this century. Mobile phone is considered as an important communication tool and became the integral part of the society. It is not only a communication device but also a necessary social accessory.³

Nomophobia is a new term, defined as the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. People, especially teenagers get very anxious when they lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit or due to less network coverage. Those who have nomophobia never switch off their mobile phones, carry their phones to bed and they will never stay away from their phone even for a second. Those who have nomophobia will also be carrying an extra phone as a precaution when their primary phone breaks. These people will be angry if their messages and texts were viewed by their partner and this will create problems in their familial and social life. They will be worrying about their phones security and will not be able to concentrate on their regular works.⁴

The term Nomophobia was first coined by British researchers in 2008. A recent study conducted in Philadelphia found that since 2008, the amount of people who fear of being without a mobile phone has grown to 66%. This number is high compared to a similar study conducted four years ago, where 53% people admitted the phobia. The study also found that 18-24 age group ranks first in nomophobia. The same study shows that people on an average check their mobile phones 34 times a day, and 77 per cent unable to stay apart for more than a few minutes.⁵

Need eor the Study:

Adolescence is a period of greatly enhanced awareness. These years are also the time when mental and psychological development takes place. The adolescents are large in number and are the citizens and workers of tomorrow. This is the time of exploration of their own and they are more curious in nature. The swiftly changing global conditions are posing a great strain on the young people, modifying their behavior and relationships and exacerbating their health problems.⁶

The communication technology has become one of the important technologies in the last thirty years of the late twentieth century. The communication technology industry is still growing significantly. The use of mobile phone has greatly changed the way the people communicate today especially the teenagers. A mobile phone is a device that can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link while moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile phone operator, allowing access to the public telephone network.⁵

A study was conducted among youth aged between 16-20years to determine the connection between consumption patterns and mobile phone use. The study results showed that the relationship to the mobile phone was consistent with their general consumption styles. It also revealed that addictive use of the phone was related to trendy and impulsive consumption styles and was found to be prevalent among females. Technology, enthusiasm and trend consciousness was linked to impulsive and hard values which is prevalent among males.⁷

Objectives:

The objectives of the study were:

1. To assess the mobile phone dependence among students of selected degree colleges in Mysore.

2. To assess the knowledge and effect of nomophobia among students of selected degree colleges in Mysore.

3. To determine the relationship between knowledge and effect of nomophobia among students of selected degree colleges in Mysore.

4. To determine the association between nomophobia and its effect on students with their selected personal variables.

Variables of the study:

The variables of the study were

Study

variables:

Knowledge and effect of nomophobia.

Other

variables:

Selected personal variables viz. age, gender, income, residence and recreational activities, age at which first started to use their own mobile phones, average use of mobile use per day, expenditure on mobile per month, reaction towards mobile phone damage, number of mobile phones they have, number of times one checks mobile phone per day, awareness about health hazards due to mobile phone use and mobile phone addiction, internet facility on mobile phone and ability to use mobile phone without looking at it.

METHODOLOGY:

An exploratory survey approach was used to identify, explore and describe the existing phenomenon and its related factors. The research design selected for the study was descriptive and correlational design.

Setting:

The study was conducted in Maharajas college, University of Mysore among 1^st year students of bachelor of arts and bachelor of business management.

Sample and sampling: Sample is the representative unit of a target population or is the subset of population. The sample of the present study comprised of 200 students of selected degree colleges of Mysore.

Sampling technique: Sampling is the process of selecting representative units from an entire population of a study. Non probability purposive sampling technique was used in the present study.

Description of tool:

The research instrument is a device used to measure the concept of interest in a research project that a researcher used to collect data. Based on the review of literature the following tools were decided to be used.

a. Proforma for selected personal variables.

b. Self- administered structured knowledge questionnaire about nomophobia.

c. Rating scale to assess the effect of nomophobia.

RESULTS:

Section I: Description of selected personal variables

The data presented in Table 1 shows that majority (83%) of the samples were in the age group of 18-20 years, 80% of the samples were males, family income of majority (64.5%) of the samples was less than Rs. 5000/, majority (58.5%) of the samples were residing in hostel, as a recreational activity 27.5% of them were interested in mobile/computer games and 14% of them interested only in mobile/computer chat and about 59.5% of the samples never heard the term nomophobia.

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of degree college students according to their selected personal variables n=200

Sl no:	Sample Characteristics	f	%
1	Age in years a) 18-20 years	166	83
1	b) 21-23 years	34	17
2	Gender a) Male	160	80
2	b) Female	40	20
3	Monthly income(approximately) of your family in rupees a) <Rs. 5000	129	64.5
	b) Between Rs.5001 – 25000	52	26
	c) Between Rs.25001 – 50000	11	5.5
	d) >Rs. 50000	08	04
4	Residing a) With family	70	35
	b) In Hostel	117	58.5
	c) As paying guest	10	05
	d) With a relative	03	1.5
5	Recreational activities a) Athletics / games	49	24.5
	b) Mobile / computer games	55	27.5
	c) Mobile / computer chat	28	14
	d) All of the above	68	34
6	Have you ever heard the term nomophobia? a) Yes	81	40.5
6	b) No	119	59.5

Mobile phone dependency:

It is evident from Table 2 that 7.5% degree college students started to use their own mobile phones as early as 10 years of age, nearly 38.5% of them started to use between 15 – 18 years and 48.5% of them started to use above the age of 18 years, 4.5% of the students use mobile phones more than 10 hours a day and 5.5% of them use seven to 10 hours a day, moreover 77.5% of them spent less than Rs.200/- per month for their mobile phone, 7% of the degree college students throw away their mobile phone if it damages, 8% of them break the damaged one and 21.5% of them buy a new one. Information about number of mobile phones owned shows that, 10.5% of them have more than two mobile phones and 21.5% of them have two mobile phones.

Among them 22% of them check their mobile phone more than 30 times a day and 21% of them checks 10-20 times a day. Moreover, 33% of the samples were not aware of the fact that there are some health hazards due to mobile phone use and 34% of the samples did not know that mobile phone causes addiction, majority (62.5%) of the mobile phone users have internet facility on their mobile phone 45% of the samples were able to use their mobile phone without looking at it and 14.5% of the samples carries their mobile phone charger always with them.

Table 2 Description of mobile phone dependency among degree college students n=200

Sl no:	Sample Characteristics	f	%
1	Age at which first started to use your own mobile phone a) < 10 years	15	7.5
	b) 10 – 14 years	11	5.5
	c) 15 – 18 years	77	38.5
	d) > 18 years	97	48.5
2	Average duration of mobile use per day a) < 2 hours	102	51
	b) 2 – 6 hours	78	39
	c) 7 – 10 hours	11	5.5
	d) > 10 hours	09	4.5
3	Expenditure on mobile per month ( in Rupees ) a) <Rs. 200	155	77.5
	b) Between Rs.200 – 400	40	05
	c) Between Rs. 401 – 600	03	1.5
	d) >Rs. 600	02	01
4	What will you do if your mobile phone is damaged? a) Buy new one	43	21.5
	b) Break the damaged one	16	08
	c) Repair it	127	63.5
	d) Throw away	14	07
5	Number of mobile phones you have at present a) One	128	64
	b) Two	43	21.5
	c) More than two	21	10.5
	d) None	08	04
6	How many times do you check your mobile phone in a day? a) < 10 times	105	52.5
	b) 10 – 20 times	42	21
	c) 21 – 30 times	09	4.5
	d) More than 30 times	44	22
7	Do you think that there are any health hazards due to mobile phones use? a) Yes	134	67
7	b) No	66	33
8	Do you think use of mobile phone cause addiction? a) Yes	132	66
8	b) No	68	34
9	Do you have internet facility on your mobile phone? a) Yes	125	62.5
9	b) No	75	37.5
10	Do you operate your mobile phone without looking at it? a) Yes	90	45
	b) No	84	42
	c) Never tried	26	13
11	Do you carry your mobile phone charger with you all the time? a) Yes	29	14.5
	b) No	68	34
	c) Sometimes	103	51.5

Section 3: Level of knowledge and effect of nomophobia among degree college students

a) Description of knowledge about nomophobia among degree college students.

The knowledge scores obtained from the subjects were tabulated to a master sheet and the total scores obtained from the samples were tabulated. Mean, Median, Range and Standard deviation were computed. The findings are presented in the Table 3.

Table 3: Mean, median, range and standard deviation of knowledge scores of degree college students n = 200

Mean	Median	Range	Standard deviation
8.56	08	1 – 21	±3.75

The data represented in Table 3 shows the perceived knowledge scores of degree college students. The knowledge score ranges from 1 – 21. The mean knowledge score is 8.56 with a standard deviation of ± 3.75.

Further the subjects arbitrarily divided as having poor knowledge, average knowledge and good knowledge. The obtained knowledge scores ranged from 0 – 21 and were further divided aspoor (0 - 9), average (10 - 13) and good (14 - 21) .The findings are presented in Table 4

Table 4: Frequency and percentage distribution of knowledge scores of Degree College students about nomophobia. n = 200

Level of knowledge	f	%
Poor knowledge	179	89.5
Average knowledge	16	08
Good knowledge	05	2.5

It is evident from Table 4 that, majority 179 (89.5%) of the sample had poor knowledge about nomophobia and 8% had average knowledge and 2.5% had good knowledge.

b) Description of effect of nomophobia among degree college students.

The effect of nomophobia ranged from 01 - 80. The responses were arbitrarily divided as mild (01 - 40), moderate (41 - 60), and severe (61 - 80) .The findings are presented in Table 5.

Table 5: Frequency and percentage distribution of effect of nomophobia on degree college students. n = 200

Effect of nomophobia	f	%
Mild effect	91	45.5
Moderate effect	102	51
Severe effect	07	3.5

It is evident from Table 5 that, majority (51%) of the sample had moderate effect of nomophobia, 45.5% had mild effect and 3.5% had severe effect of nomophobia.

Section 4

Relationship between knowledge score and effect of nomophobia among degree college students

To find the significance of correlation between knowledge and effect of nomophobia among degree college students, Karl Pearson’s coefficient of correlation was computed. To test the significance of statistical value the following null hypothesis was stated:

H₀₁ :

There will be no significant correlation between knowledge and effect of nomophobia among degree college students.

The findings are presented in Table 6

Table 6: Correlation between knowledge scores and effect of nomophobia among degree college students n = 200

Variable

Mean score

Knowledge

8.56

0.61*

Effect

39.64

r₍₁₉₈₎ =0.116; p < 0.05; * = Significant

It is evident from Table 6 that the computed value r = 0.61 is found to be significant. Hence, the research hypothesis H₁is supported and the null hypothesis H₀₁is rejected. There for it is inferred that, inadequate knowledge will lead to increased effect of nomophobia.

Section 5 Association between the level of knowledge and effect of nomophobia with their selected personal variables of degree college students

i) Significance of association between level of knowledge regarding nomophobia with their selected personal variables.

In order to find the association between level of knowledge regarding nomophobia with their selected personal variables chi-square was computed. The data are presented in Table7 and Table 8. To test the statistical significance following null hypothesis was stated.

H₀₂:

There will be no significant association between the level of knowledge regarding nomophobia among degree college students and with their selected personal variables.

Table 7: Findings related to association between the level of knowledge with their selected personal variables of degree college students. n = 200

Sl no:	Sample Characteristics	Level of knowledge		χ²	d f
		Poor	Average
1	Age in years a) 18-20 years	161	05	58.26^*	1
	b) 21-23 years	18	16
2	Gender a) Male	156	04	52.55^*#	1
	b) Female	23	17
3	Monthly income(approximately) of your family in rupees a) <Rs. 5000	125	04	20.72^*#	1
	b) Above Rs.5001	54	17
4	Residing a) With family	65	05	1.29	1
	b) In Hostel/as paying guest/ with relative	114	16
5	Have you ever heard the term nomophobia? a) Yes	70	11	1.37	1
	b) No	109	10

χ2 (1) = 3.84 p=0.05, * = Significant (p<0.05), # =Yates correction done.

Table 8: Findings related to association between the level of knowledge with their selected personal variables (mobile phone use) of degree college students. n = 200

Sl no:	Sample Characteristics	Level of knowledge			χ²	d f
		Poor	Average
1	Age at which first started to use your own mobile phone				1.69	1
	a) < 18 years	95	08
	b) > 18 years	84	13
2	Average duration of mobile use per day a) < 2 hours	94	08		45.74^*	1
	b) 2 – 6 hours	85	13
3	Expenditure on mobile per month (in Rupees) a) <Rs. 200	138	17		0.66^#	1
	b) > Rs.200 - 400	41	03
4	What will you do if your mobile phone is damaged? a) Buy new one/ Break the damaged one/ Throw away	70	03		5.28^*^#	1
	b) Repair it	109	18
5	Number of mobile phones you have at present a) One	115	13		0.241	1
	b) Two or more	56	08
6	How many times do you check your mobile phone in a day? a) < 10 times	99	06		7.10^*	2
	b) 10 – 30 times	41	10
	c) More than 30 times	39	05
7	Do you think that there are any health hazards due to mobile phones use? a) Yes	116	18		4.03^*^#	1
	b) No	63	03
8	Do you think use of mobile phone cause addiction? a) Yes	116		16	1.09	1
	b) No	63		05
9	Do you have internet facility on your mobile phone? a) Yes	112		13	0.0035	1
	b) No	67		08
10	Do you operate your mobile phone without looking at it? a) Yes	84		06	2.56	1
	b) No / never tried	95		15
11	Do you carry your mobile phone charger with you all the time? a) Yes	27		08	6.91^*	2
	b) No	56		12
	c) Sometimes	90		07

χ2 (1) = 3.84, χ2 (2) = 5.99 p = 0.05 , * = Significant (p<0.05), # = Yates correction done.

Table 9:Findings related to association between the effects of nomophobia with their selected personal variables of degree college students. n = 200

Sl no:	Sample Characteristics	Level of effect			χ²	d f
		Mild	Moderate	Severe
1	Monthly income(approximately) of your family in rupees a) <Rs. 5000	30	77	22	21.91^*	2
	a) >Rs. 5000	36	26	08
2	Residing a) With family	22	35	13	0.78	2
	b) In Hostel/as paying guest/with relative	44	68	18
3	Recreational activities a) Athletics / games	15	29	05	3.53	4
	b) Mobile & computer games/chats	31	37	15
	c) All of the above	20	37	11
4	Have you ever heard the term nomophobia? a) Yes	27	44	10	1.09	2
	b) No	39	59	21

χ2 (2) = 5.99, χ2 (4) = 9.49, p = 0.05, * = Significant (p<0.05)

TABLE 10 Findings related to association between the effects of nomophobia with their selected personal variables (mobile phone use) of degree college students. n = 200

Sl no:	Sample Characteristics	Level of effect				χ²	d f
		Mild	Moderate		Severe
1	Age at which first started to use your own mobile phone a) < 14 years	07	13		06	9.71^*	4
	b) 15 – 18 years	18	42		17
	c) > 18 years	41	48		08
2	Average duration of mobile use per day a) < 2 hours	37	50		15	1.009	2
	b) 2 – 6 hours or more	29	53		16
3	Expenditure on mobile per month( in Rupees) a) <Rs. 200	49	85		21	3.59	2
	b) > Rs.200 - 400	17	18		10
4	What will you do if your mobile phone is damaged? a) Buy new one	13	21		08	6.008	4
	b) Break the damaged one/throw away	05	21		05
	c) Repair it	48	61		18
5	Number of mobile phones you have at present a) One	43	68		17	2.48	2
	b) Two or more	21	29		14
6	How many times do you check your mobile phone in a day? a) < 10 times	37	59		09	11.70^*	4
	b) 10 – 20 times	17	17		08
	c) More than 20 times	12	27		14
7	Do you think that there are any health hazards due to mobile phones use? a) Yes	46	66		22	0.84	2
	b) No	20	37		09
8	Do you think use of mobile phone cause addiction? a) Yes	46	65		21	0.83	2
	b) No	20	38		10
9	Do you have internet facility on your mobile phone? a) Yes	38	66		21	1.16	2
	b) No	28	37		10
10	Do you operate your mobile phone without looking at it? a) Yes	25	49	16		2.18	2
	b) No / Never tried	41	54	15
11	Do you carry your mobile phone charger with you all the time? a) Yes	09	16	05		8.07	4
	b) No	31	27	10
	c) Sometimes	26	60	16

χ2 (2) = 5.99, χ2 (4) = 9.49, p = 0.05, * = Significant (p<0.05)

The data presented in Table 9 and 10 shows that, the computed chi-square values were found to be significant for variables monthly income, age at which they started to use their own mobile phone and number of times one check their mobile phone per day at 0.05 level of significance and therefore, the findings partially support the null hypothesis H₀₃ inferring that significant association between the effect of nomophobia and their selected personal variables. viz. monthly income, age at which they started to use their own mobile phone and number of times one check their mobile phone per day.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Similar study can be carried out on a larger sample for broader generalization.

2. The similar study can be carried out using an experimental design to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme regarding hazards of nomophobia.

CONCLUSION:

The present study aimed to assess the knowledge and effect of nomophobia among students of selected degree colleges in Mysore.

Data was collected from 200 degree college students and the data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics and presented in the form of tables and graphs. The analysis of the findings revealed that, majority (89.5%) of the samples had poor knowledge about nomophobia and majority (51%) of the samples had moderate effect of nomophobia. It was also clear from the findings of the study that there was significant relationship between the knowledge and effect of nomophobia among degree college students. The results of the study also showed that the personal variables viz. age, gender, monthly income, average duration of mobile use per day, reaction towards mobile phone damage, frequency of checking mobile phone per day, knowledge about health hazards due to mobile phone use and mobile phone addiction, carrying of mobile phone charger all the time had a significant association with knowledge of nomophobia among degree college students. The personal variables viz. monthly income, frequency of checking mobile phone per day had significant association with effect of nomophobia.

Thus, it was concluded that, though there is inadequate knowledge regarding nomophobia among degree college students there was an increase in effect. Hence there is a need to sensitize and alert them regarding nomophobia and its effects and thus the hazards of nomophobia can be prevented thereby enabling them to be a fruitful citizenry.

REFERENCE:

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3. KartiDubey. User-awareness about security threats on mobile phone is very low, says F-secure: Interview [internet] 2008 [cited 2013 Nov 8]. Available from: http://www.techshout.com/features/2008/01/user-awareness-about-security-threats-on-mobile-phones-is-very-low-says-f-secure-interview/

4. What is nomophobia? Mobile phone fears. [internet] 2012[updated 2012 Feb 21; cited Nov 3]Available from: http://www.indianist.com/what-is-nomophobia-mobile-phone-fears/

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Received on 02.06.2014 Modified on 25.06.2014

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 4(4): Oct.- Dec., 2014; Page 421-428

H₁ :	There will be significant correlation between knowledge and effect of nomophobia among degree college students.
H₂ :	There will be significant association between the level of knowledge regarding nomophobia among degree college students and their selected personal variables.
H₃ :	There will be significant association between effect of nomophobia among degree college students and their selected personal variables.

Knowledge:	It refers to the correct responses of college students to the questions included in the structured knowledge questionnaire regarding nomophobia and its effects expressed in terms of knowledge scores.
Effect:	It refers to a psychological syndrome in which a person is afraid of being out of mobile or cell phone contact, manifested as feelings of anger, tension, depression, arguments, social isolation, lack of concentration and fatigue.
Nomophobia:	It refers to a psychological syndrome in which a person is afraid of being out of mobile or cell phone contact, manifested as feelings of anger, tension depression, arguments, social isolation, lack of concentration and fatigue.
College students:	Students enrolled in a college or university. In the present study all degree students studying in any combination of I, II and III year degree within the age group of 18 to 23 years.
Personal variables:	It refers to age, gender, family income, residence, recreational activities, age at which first started to use mobile, duration of mobile phone use per day, expenditure on mobile per month and response to damage of mobile phone.