Higher nomophobia linked to more frequent social media use during less busy periods of negative emotion

Smartphones have become an essential part of everyday life. The anxiety or discomfort experienced when people are unable to use their mobile phones or when their phones are not within reach is known as nomophobia in psychology. A joint longitudinal study involving Lingnan University found that participants with higher scores on the Nomophobia Questionnaire were more likely to spend longer and more frequent periods on social media when experiencing negative emotions and when less rushed, and findings suggest that increased smartphone use may be associated with the way individuals regulate negative emotions as a “temporary escape”. These findings have been published in the Special Issue “Addressing Behavioural Addictions and Promoting Emotional Well-Being: Insight, Challenges, and Solutions” of the international medical journal Healthcare.

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