How do I know if I have “nomophobia”, an irrational fear of not having a cell phone (or WhatsApp)

In recent years, the use of mobile phones has grown exponentially, especially after the emergence of smart devices. These have become our pocket (and life) companions who accompany us wherever we go. However, excessive and irrational use can lead to problems of dependence, addiction and fear.

Nomophobia (non-cellphone phobia) can be understood as extreme fear or anxiety of an irrational nature that occurs when a person goes for a period of time without being able to use their cell phone. Either to not have it at hand, or to have exhausted the battery, the data plan or the inability to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

What are the causes of nomophobia?

At present, the most popular hypothesis to analyze this problem proposes that Fear can arise due to four main factors: inability to communicate with others, loss of connection, inability to access information, and lack of comfort.

For example, nomophobic behavior would be that of a person who forgot their phone at home on the way out and, when they realize it, begins to feel overwhelmed, scared or paralyzed. If the reason is that you cannot communicate with others instantly or you are unsure if someone is trying to communicate with them, you will need to analyze if this is behavior related to nomophobia.

This can also happen due to the inability to instantly see the various notifications sent through the applications that we have installed on the device.

Unlike addiction, Nomophobia can be thought of as a more extreme fear that ends up hampering and hampering a person’s daily life., especially when you can’t instantly use your mobile.

There are several studies that show that a significant percentage of people from different groups (students of different pre-university education levels, teachers, nurses, doctors, etc.) suffer from this problem.

A recent review of studies shows that Nomophobia negatively affects an individual’s personality, self-esteem, anxiety, stress, and academic performance. Plus, it can cause other physical and mental health issues.

Who is most likely to suffer from nomophobia?

There are several variables that can be predictors of nomophobia that were used in this recent study. Among them, interpersonal sensitivity, obsessive-compulsive behaviors and the number of daily hours spent using the cell phone stand out.

On the other hand, age (this is particularly common in adolescents) and poor lifestyle habits, such as poor diet or sacrificing hours of sleep, are factors that also affect the development of this phobia.

More research is needed to study this phenomenon. But it has already established itself as one of the most common pathologies born after the digital revolution of recent times.

Consequences of the fear of having no motive

Current research shows that having this problem can lead to other derivative circumstances. For example, having worse eating habits, decreased rest time, social isolation, decreased performance in both school and work, and greater distraction.

It can also lead to certain health problems. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome (excessive pressure on the median nerve in the wrist that allows sensation and movement of parts of the hand) might develop. But also other mental disorders such as social phobia, hyperactivity or depression.

To prevent this problem from affecting our physical and mental well-being, it is necessary to develop educational programs from an early age that are committed to the rational use of mobile devices. This implies the need to implement adequate digital competence and critical awareness regarding the use of information and communication technologies.

In turn, it is recommended that the person in question do a self-analysis of the daily time spent using their cell phone. In this reflection, it is also necessary to evaluate the purposes of their use, thus analyzing their behavior in this regard.

Based on self-awareness, the subject can decide whether they need to adjust the time they spend on their mobile. And, if necessary, if you need the help of third parties.

Therefore, if you think that your daily life is affected by the type of use you make of your phone and you are having trouble with it, then it is possible that you have an addiction to this device which could lead to nomophobia if the solution is not resolved. situation.

* By Antonio-Manuel Rodríguez-García, is Assistant Professor Doctor (didactics and school organization), University of Granada

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