Prevalence and predictors of nomophobia among undergraduate medical students of a medical college: a cross-sectional study

Inba Raja Alagesan; Sayeli Mitra; Suchetana Bhattacharyya; Paramita Sarkar

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20251728

Authors

Inba Raja Alagesan Department of Community Medicine, Bhaarath Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9835-949X
Sayeli Mitra Department of Community Medicine, Jagannath Gupta Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7563-214X
Suchetana Bhattacharyya Department of Community Medicine, PKG Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9258-9569
Paramita Sarkar Department of Community Medicine, North Bengal Medical College, Siliguri, West Bengal, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3460-0007

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20251728

Keywords:

Nomophobia, Prevalence, Predictors, Smartphone use, Medical students

Abstract

Background: Nomophobia, the fear of being without mobile phone access, is increasingly common among young adults, yet few studies address it among medical students in India. This study evaluated its prevalence and predictors among MBBS students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 280 undergraduate medical students in R.G. Kar Medical College, from August to October 2020. The Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) assessed nomophobia levels (absent, mild, moderate, severe). Data on demographics and smartphone use were collected via self-administered Google Forms after obtaining informed consent. Statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression, was performed using SPSS.

Results: Of 280 respondents, 152 (54.3%) were males, with overall mean age of 20.81±1.64 years. Day scholars comprised 53.2%, hostel residents were 30%. Nomophobia prevalence was 99.6%, with 53.2% moderate and 30.4% severe cases. No significant associations emerged with gender (p=0.242), year of study (p=0.09), or place of stay (p=0.409). Severe nomophobia was significantly associated to >5 hours/day of mobile use (38.6% vs. 7.1% for <1 hour, p<0.001), checking every 5 minutes (41.5% vs. 3.0% for >1 hour, p<0.001), and phantom ringing (36.3% vs. 23.9%, p=0.001). Logistic regression confirmed frequent checking (OR=13.77, 95% CI: 1.78–106.42, p=0.012) and phantom ringing perception (OR=1.87, 95% CI: 1.12–3.14, p=0.017) as predictors.

Conclusion: Nomophobia affects nearly all medical students, driven by heavy mobile use and frequent checking. Interventions targeting usage habits are needed.

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