Comparing the prevalence of nomophobia and smartphone addiction among university students pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19.

CROSS-sectional method; SOCIAL media; COMPULSIVE behavior; SMARTPHONES; QUESTIONNAIRES; ANXIETY; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; SCREEN time; DISEASE prevalence; SURVEYS; COLLEGE students; COVID-19 pandemic

This study aimed to: (a) explore differences in the prevalence of nomophobia and smartphone addiction (SA) from pre- to during COVID-19; (b) identify students' self-reported changes in smartphone reliance and screen time during COVID-19; and (c) examine whether self-perceived changes in smartphone usage predicted nomophobia and SA scores. Scores on the Nomophobia Questionnaire and Smartphone Addiction Scale between two surveys administered at two timepoints were compared: Sample 1 (September 2019–January 2020; N = 878) and Sample 2 (May-June 2020; N = 258). No significant differences were found between samples on nomophobia or SA. Nearly all of Sample 2 reported using some type of app more, using their smartphone a little more, and about the same perceived smartphone reliance during COVID-19. Increased screen time, smartphone reliance, and social media significantly predicted nomophobia and SA. COVID-19 does not appear to have exacerbated the prevalence of nomophobia or SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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