NOMOPHOBIA, ANXIETY AND SELF-ESTEEM AMONG YOUNG ADULTS- A CORRELATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Nomophobia, or the fear of being without a mobile device, is a common condition among young adults that can exacerbate feelings of dependence and unease by raising anxiety levels. Because young adults may associate their value with online approval, this dependence on technology can have an impact on self-esteem and cause confidence swings based on digital interactions. In an increasingly digital environment, it is imperative to comprehend the complex relationship among nomophobia, anxiety, and self-esteem to design interventions that effectively support young people' psychological well-being. The present research aims to study the correlation between nomophobia, anxiety and self-esteem among young adults. Standardized tools were used to measure Nomophobia, Anxiety and Self-Esteem. The tools used for the purpose were Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Data was collected from the samples of 152 individuals which comprised 76 males and 76 females falling within the age range of 18-25 years. Using SPSS, the data was subjected to Person product correlation and t-test for the analysis. The result revealed that there is significant positive correlation between Nomophobia and Anxiety among young adults. Further, there is a significant negative correlation between Nomophobia and Self-esteem among young adults. t-test results revealed that there is a significant gender difference between anxiety among young adults as females were found to have higher levels of anxiety than males. However, no gender differences were found in nomophobia and self-esteem of the target population. Incorporating mindfulness-based strategies or digital detox strategies may help in mitigating the negative effects of nomophobia.