Nomophobia and academic stress among medical students: Time to ponder

Abstract

Nomophobia is the fear of not having access to a mobile phone. Academic stress is characterized by apprehension, persistent concerns and anxiety regarding one’s academic achievement. In the fast-changing world, smartphones have become a very handy tool for students and teachers, and it is not unusual to have a link between nomophobia and academic stress. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of nomophobia and its association with academic stress among medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among students in a medical college of North India from January to July 2024. A total of 418 students from the second, third, and final year MBBS batch participated in the study. The data were collected using a semi-structured pro forma, which included an academic stress inventory (seven domains, namely Teachers Stress, Results Stress, Tests Stress, Group Stress, Peer Stress, Time management stress, and Self-inflicted stress), a questionnaire on nomophobia (20 questions) and smartphone usage patterns. The data were analyzed using statistical software, SPSS 21 (trial version). Study participants were aged between 18 and 29 years; males and females were 55.7% and 44.3%, respectively. The majority of the students (69.14%) had moderate levels of nomophobia (males 70.39% and females 67.57%). There is a strong association and correlation between nomophobia and each domain of academic stress. The study reveals a high percentage of moderate level nomophobia in medical students, which may progress to a severe form in the near future.