A Descriptive Study to Assess the Risk of Developing Nomophobia among Students of Selected Nursing Colleges Ludhiana, Punjab

Nomophobia is a new term, defines 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.

Non experimental approach and descriptive research design was adopted in this study. The study was conducted in four selected colleges of Ludhiana, Punjab. The sample of this study was 200 nursing students. Simple random sampling technique was used to draw the sample. The tool developed and used for the data collection were socio-demographic performa, checklist and likert scale. The content validity was obtained from the experts and the reliability was obtained by split half method. Feasibility of the study was confirmed by pilot study Data was collected from nursing students by self structured tool. Data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics and presented through tables and figures.

Findings revealed that majority of nursing students (79%) were at risk of developing nomophobia, followed by normal (15%) and remaining (6%) are nomophobic. Maximum of nursing students were using mobile phones with internet facility (81.5%), sleep with their mobile phone turned on (80.5%), were using smart phone (74%), using mobile phones for playing games (70.5%) and set mobile phone on vibrate mode rather than turning it off during lectures (66%). There was moderately positive correlation (r =0.328) between pattern of mobile phone usage and risk of developing nomophobia at p<0.05 level. Gender was found significantly related to risk of developing nomophobia.

In the present study maximum of nursing students were at risk of developing nomophobia. Majority of nursing students are using mobile phones with internet facility, sleep with their mobile phone turned on, using smart phone, use mobile phones for playing games and set mobile phone on vibrate mode rather than turning it off during lectures. It is found that there is moderately positive correlation (0.328) between pattern of mobile phone usage and risk of developing nomophobia. Gender has significant relationship with the risk of developing nomophobia among nursing students.