As the phenomenon of ‘nomophobia’ has gained traction globally, a study by AIIMS Patna, Delhi and Odisha has found that college students in India too are no exception to this disturbing trend, a psychological condition where people have a situational phobia of being detached from mobile phone connectivity.
The doctors included Dr Rajeev Ranjan, Associate Professor (Psychiatry) from AIIMS Patna, Dr Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, Additional Professor of Psychiatry at AIIMS, Delhi and Biswa Ranjan Mishra, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar who delved into the depths of this alarming prevalence and associated behaviours such as compulsive smartphone use for entertainment and seeking validation through social media likes.
Students aged 18 to 24 from diverse regions were assessed, using a comprehensive questionnaire comprising 20 items across four domains-communication, connectedness, access to information, and phone usage limitations.
The doctors extensively evaluated the students’ smartphone habits for the study “Nomophobia in College Students: Recognition and challenges”.
Among the key findings were six overarching themes that characterised nomophobic behaviours among the students.
These included digital obsession, compulsion, approval motivation, well-being, and insight. The doctors found that students exhibited a strong attachment to their smartphones, often resorting to frequent phone-checking and extended usage periods for entertainment purposes, said the study.
Furthermore, it revealed that social media interactions, such as receiving ‘likes’ and comments, played a significant role in providing emotional validation for the students.
Many participants also admitted to using their smartphones as a means of escaping from the pressures of reality, further exacerbating their dependency on these devices.
Checking the phone every few minutes, and using it for long hours for entertainment were the most common traits. For many, the phone was a constant companion to which they were strongly attached.
‘Likes’ or comments on social media gave them a false sense of security and emotional validation. For some, the smartphone served as a means of escape from reality.
They went to great lengths to be connected, buying phones with long battery life and data connectivity. Some used phones for educational purposes such as preparing for seminars, enhancing knowledge, attending online classes and webinars.
Besides growing awareness regarding content creation for economic gains, online trading in share markets and so on were found to be attractive, added the study.
However, what was more worrying was that, as the doctors noted that despite acknowledging the negative impacts of excessive smartphone use on their health and personal lives, a significant number of students found it challenging to break free from their phone’s grasp.
Calling it a disturbing trend, the doctors have emphasised on the urgent need for interventions aimed at addressing and mitigating its effects among college students in India.
“The study serves as a crucial foundation for the development of targeted interventions and educational programmes aimed at promoting healthier smartphone habits and fostering digital well-being among college students across the country,” they said.
“What has been widely prevalent in many developed countries, this disturbing phenomenon is quietly gripping the students in India too in the digital era. This addiction needs to be managed sensitively and meticulously as it can lead to many mental health issues in the long run, warned Dr RC Jiloha, senior psychiatrist and ex-HOD (Psychiatrist) of GB Pant Hospital, Delhi.
