Nomophobia in the digital age: prevalence, psychological and behavioral determinants and public health implications: a narrative review

Abstract

Nomophobia, defined as the fear of being without access to a mobile phone. Despite not being formally classified in the in the DSM-5 or ICD-11, nomophobia has emerged as increasing research attention in recent era. This narrative review aimed to synthesis evidence on the prevalence, associated factors and underlying mechanisms of nomophobia. A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar and PubMed Central, was conducted for studies published between 2008 and 2025. The final search was conducted in February 2026.Eligible observational study designs, including cohort, longitudinal, ecological, case-control and cross-sectional studies published in English. The search identified 324 records across databases, including 72 from PubMed, 54 from Google Scholar and 198 from PubMed Central. Following the screening and eligibility assessment, 36 studies were included in the final synthesis. Most studies reported moderate to severe levels of nomophobia, with particularly high prevalence among medical and university students. Consistent associations were observed between nomophobia and anxiety, depression, stress, Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), poor sleep quality, excessive screen time and problematic social media use. Younger age, frequent smartphone checking, prolonged daily smartphone uses and digital dependency behaviors emerged as predictors of nomophobia. Nomophobia represents a significant and emerging public health issue with implications for mental health and daily functioning. Addressing this condition requires targeted interventions focusing on digital well-being, emotional regulation and responsible smartphone use, alongside the development of standardized measurement approaches for improved comparability across studies.