Prevalence and Risk Factors of Nomophobia among Undergraduate Students of Health Sciences Colleges at King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Research Professionals - Year 2018, Vol 4, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: Smartphones constitute an important part of life, especially among the younger population. "Nomophobia", or no mobile phobia is on the rise worldwide. Objective: To assess prevalence and associated risk factors of severe nomophobia among students of Health Sciences colleges at King Khalid University (KKU). Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at KKU, Abha City, Saudi Arabia. Following a simple random sample, 622 undergraduate Health Sciences Colleges students were selected. The validated 20-item Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) was used for data collection. The total score for each participant was graded as “absent nomophobia” (scores of 21-59), “mildnomophobia” (scores of 60-99), or “severe nomophobia” (scores ≥ 100). Results: Participants’ age (Mean+SD) was 21.8+2.0 years. Males constituted 48.1%. Almost one fourth of students (22.2%) had severe nomophobia. All students had smartphones. Grades of nomophobia differed significantly according to students’ age groups (p=0.032), with higher percentages of severe nomophobia among older students, and according to students’ college (p=0.003), with highest percentage of severe nomophobia among students of Applied Sciences college and lowest among medical students (34.4% and 16.3 %, respectively). Internet users and those who use their smartphones for 4 hours or more daily had significantly higher prevalence of severe nomophobia. Conclusions: Severe nomophobia is common among students of Health Sciences colleges at KKU. Risk factors include older age, students at Applied College Sciences, Internet access and prolonged daily use of mobile phones. Health education should be targeted to university students to prevent possible harmful effects of mobile phones.
Authors and Affiliations
Mohammed S. Alahmari, Adil A. Alfaifi, Abdulrahman H. Alyami, Saad M. Alshehri, Shahad S. Alkhashrami, Ahlam S. Alqahtani, Amal A. Alghamdi, Asma S. Alqahtani, Ossama A. Mostafa
Keywords
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- EP ID EP530275
- DOI 10.21276/ijmrp.2018.4.1.088
- Views 78
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