Nomophobia in the Digital Age: A Study on College and University Students

In today’s digitally connected world, smartphones have become an inseparable part of daily life, especially for students in higher education. While these devices offer convenience and connectivity, their overuse has given rise to a growing psychological concern known as nomophobia the fear of being without a mobile phone. This study aims to compare the levels of nomophobia among college and university students, exploring how differences in academic environments and student lifestyles may influence mobile phone dependency. A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional research design was employed, treating students as the independent variable and nomophobia level as the dependent variable, using a standardized nomophobia questionnaire administered to a sample of college and university students. The data were analyzed to determine the prevalence and intensity of nomophobia, along with any significant differences between the two groups. A total sample of 100 students, equally representing both groups, was evaluated using a standardized nomophobia scale. The mean scores for college and university students were 86.3 and 85.34, respectively, with standard deviations of 23.9 and 19.14. The standard error of difference was 4.33, with 98 degrees of freedom. An independent samples t-test was conducted and the resulting t-value of 0.22 indicated that there is no statistically significant difference in nomophobia levels between college and university students. These findings suggest that nomophobia is similarly prevalent among both groups, underscoring the need for shared preventive measures and awareness initiatives across educational institutions.