Nomophobia among medical students before and after COVID-19 – A propensity score-matched study

Introduction: NOMObile PHone PhOBIA (NOMOPHOBIA) is a psychological condition where people fear of being detached from mobile phone connectivity or use. Mobile phones became the main source of entertainment and academics during the lockdown enforced to contain COVID-19. The present study aims to fin...

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Main Authors: Pavan Kumar Kadiyala, P Prasanth Dayala, Naga Chaitanya Duggirala, Sukeerthi Busi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2023-01-01
Series:Archives of Mental Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.amhonline.org/article.asp?issn=2589-9171;year=2023;volume=24;issue=2;spage=85;epage=89;aulast=Kadiyala
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author Pavan Kumar Kadiyala
P Prasanth Dayala
Naga Chaitanya Duggirala
Sukeerthi Busi
author_facet Pavan Kumar Kadiyala
P Prasanth Dayala
Naga Chaitanya Duggirala
Sukeerthi Busi
author_sort Pavan Kumar Kadiyala
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: NOMObile PHone PhOBIA (NOMOPHOBIA) is a psychological condition where people fear of being detached from mobile phone connectivity or use. Mobile phones became the main source of entertainment and academics during the lockdown enforced to contain COVID-19. The present study aims to find the change in the prevalence, severity, and characteristics of nomophobia among medical students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students during September 2019 and after the second wave of COVID-19 in September 2021, using Google Forms. The form included sociodemographic data, clinical details, characteristics of mobile phone usage, and the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q). The two groups (2019 and 2021) were matched using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Results: There were significant differences between the groups in terms of age, time spent and purpose of mobile phone usage, and frequently used mobile applications. Among the 2019 and 2021 groups, 99.50% and 99.54% had nomophobia, respectively. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of severity, and dimensions of NMP-Q, except the dimension of "losing connectedness." After PSM, similar results of nil significant differences, except the increase in severity of the dimension of "losing connectedness" in the 2021 group were found. Conclusion: The COVID-19 infection and lockdown, which happened during the era of technological advancement, have not changed the characteristics of nomophobia among medical students. However, post-COVID-19, there is a significant increase in the feelings of losing ubiquitous connectivity provided by mobile phones. If you find yourself always alert for phone notifications or reaching out to get your phone at frequent intervals, it's time for a digital detox.
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spelling doaj.art-451d0af71cb54c4596ed3c80eab371f32024-01-18T10:38:38ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsArchives of Mental Health2589-91712589-918X2023-01-01242858910.4103/amh.amh_115_22Nomophobia among medical students before and after COVID-19 – A propensity score-matched studyPavan Kumar KadiyalaP Prasanth DayalaNaga Chaitanya DuggiralaSukeerthi BusiIntroduction: NOMObile PHone PhOBIA (NOMOPHOBIA) is a psychological condition where people fear of being detached from mobile phone connectivity or use. Mobile phones became the main source of entertainment and academics during the lockdown enforced to contain COVID-19. The present study aims to find the change in the prevalence, severity, and characteristics of nomophobia among medical students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students during September 2019 and after the second wave of COVID-19 in September 2021, using Google Forms. The form included sociodemographic data, clinical details, characteristics of mobile phone usage, and the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q). The two groups (2019 and 2021) were matched using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Results: There were significant differences between the groups in terms of age, time spent and purpose of mobile phone usage, and frequently used mobile applications. Among the 2019 and 2021 groups, 99.50% and 99.54% had nomophobia, respectively. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of severity, and dimensions of NMP-Q, except the dimension of "losing connectedness." After PSM, similar results of nil significant differences, except the increase in severity of the dimension of "losing connectedness" in the 2021 group were found. Conclusion: The COVID-19 infection and lockdown, which happened during the era of technological advancement, have not changed the characteristics of nomophobia among medical students. However, post-COVID-19, there is a significant increase in the feelings of losing ubiquitous connectivity provided by mobile phones. If you find yourself always alert for phone notifications or reaching out to get your phone at frequent intervals, it's time for a digital detox.http://www.amhonline.org/article.asp?issn=2589-9171;year=2023;volume=24;issue=2;spage=85;epage=89;aulast=Kadiyalacovid-19mobile phone addictionnomophobianomophobia questionnairepropensity score matching
spellingShingle Pavan Kumar Kadiyala
P Prasanth Dayala
Naga Chaitanya Duggirala
Sukeerthi Busi
Nomophobia among medical students before and after COVID-19 – A propensity score-matched study
Archives of Mental Health
covid-19
mobile phone addiction
nomophobia
nomophobia questionnaire
propensity score matching
title Nomophobia among medical students before and after COVID-19 – A propensity score-matched study
title_full Nomophobia among medical students before and after COVID-19 – A propensity score-matched study
title_fullStr Nomophobia among medical students before and after COVID-19 – A propensity score-matched study
title_full_unstemmed Nomophobia among medical students before and after COVID-19 – A propensity score-matched study
title_short Nomophobia among medical students before and after COVID-19 – A propensity score-matched study
title_sort nomophobia among medical students before and after covid 19 a propensity score matched study
topic covid-19
mobile phone addiction
nomophobia
nomophobia questionnaire
propensity score matching
url http://www.amhonline.org/article.asp?issn=2589-9171;year=2023;volume=24;issue=2;spage=85;epage=89;aulast=Kadiyala
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AT nagachaitanyaduggirala nomophobiaamongmedicalstudentsbeforeandaftercovid19apropensityscorematchedstudy
AT sukeerthibusi nomophobiaamongmedicalstudentsbeforeandaftercovid19apropensityscorematchedstudy