Nomophobia Problem Investigation Report for CMNS 251 at UFV

This report investigates nomophobia, the fear of being without a mobile phone, as a potential problem for students at the University of Fraser Valley (UFV). It begins with an introduction to nomophobia, its effects on university students, and an analysis of its severity among UFV students based on a survey conducted in week 6. The report highlights the importance of a public awareness campaign and how it might help UFV students recover from nomophobia. It designs a university-based awareness campaign based on the elements of a good public awareness campaign, aiming to address mental health complications stemming from nomophobia and improve students' academic performance. The report concludes with the benefits of the campaign, which include overcoming mobile phone addiction and increasing student engagement in healthy lifestyle habits.

Running head: PROBLEM INVESTIGATION REPORT
Assignment 3: Problem Investigation Report
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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PROBLEM INVESTIGATION REPORT
To
UFV’s Associate Dean of Students
Dr. Alisa Webb
Respected Ma’am,
I am writing this report to you in order to draw your attention nomophobi, a potential
problem for UFV students, and to describe an awareness campaign at UFV, which I would like to
implement to help them to recover from this issue.
Regards,
Name of the Student
Date:

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PROBLEM INVESTIGATION REPORT
Introduction
The increasing use of the new technologies and involvement in the virtual communication
like laptops, personal computers, tablets and Smartphones are causing new changes in the
individuals’ lifestyle and daily living behaviour. The use and the popularity of Smartphones have led
to an advent of new term, “nomophobia”. Nomophobia means no-mobile-phone phobia or fear of
staying away or without mobile phones (King et al., 2013). The following report will initiate with the
brief introduction about nomophobia followed by how it affects the university and college students.
The report will then analyze the nomophobia severity among the UFV students based survey results
conducted in week-6. At the end, the report will highlight importance of the public awareness
program campaign and how this campaign might help the university students of UFV to recover from
nomophobia. At the end, a university-based awareness campaign will be designed based on the
parameters of Elements of a Good Public Awareness Campaign: At a Glance in order help university
students with nomophobia.
The main purpose of this report is present a new mental health complications among which
is streaming at an alarming rate among the young adults (nomophobia) and to design effective
strategy or intervention in order overcome such mental health complications or psychological state
of mind. The report will be beneficial for the university administrators to help their students recover
from nomophobia and improve their academic performance.
Background
According to Elmore (2014) the term nomophobia is defined as a fear of being without a cell
phone or beyond the reach of the mobile phone connectivity. Uysal, Lisesi and Madenoğlu (2016)
stated that there is a strong argument behind nomophobia being classified as legitimate phobia or
simply as a state of anxiety. King et al. (2013) are of the opinion that nomophobia can be considered
as a disorder of the modern world and is recently used to describe as the state of mental anxiety or
discomfort caused due to non-availability of the mobile phones (MP), personal computers (PC) or
other devises of virtual communications that individuals are habituated with. The nomophobic
symptoms might also indicate the presence of possible yet pre-existing mental health disorder that
needs urgent investigation and treatment. The symptoms of nomophobics can reflect among the
individuals who suffer from anxiety disorders and only serve as an indicator for the mental health
professionals to investigate the original cause. The symptoms of nomophobia are non-existent in the
anxiety disorders even though the individuals without able to survive in the absence of internet
connection (King et al., 2013). Nomophobia is recent and has originated as a consequence of
increased human interactivity with the new technologies and thus lack official presence in the
Manual diagnostic and Statistical of Mental Disorder (DSM). However, proposals are being made in
order to include nomophobia under the official list of DSM-V. (Bragazzi & Del Puente, 2014). Some of
the common effects or the manifestation of nomophobia includes sleeping along with the
Smartphones, unwillingness to switch-off the phone even while asleep, answering phone calls or
checking messages even while intimate with partner and checking phone after every 5-mins even
when no new notifications came in (Elmore, 2014). Yildirim and Correia (2015) are of the opinion
that nomophobia hampers the state of mind. The person who is nomophobic suffers from certain
anxiety or fear if staying away from phone. A nomophobic individuals fail to connect or
communicate even while on a light-hearted discussion or vacation with a group as they remain
engrossed in their virtual world. Moreover, a nomophobic individual suffers from lack of confidence
under the absence of the phone as for even lifestyle change suggestion they rely on the phone app
and not on personal sense. Mainly the young adults or the college students are the victims of the
nomophobia. Excessive addiction towards the Smartphones hampers proper cognitive development

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PROBLEM INVESTIGATION REPORT
and inter-personal communication skills along with poor academic performance. Thus, nomophobia
that must be taken under active consideration (Yildirim & Correia, 2015).
In relation to the nomophobic survey conducted among the 11 UFV students, based on 20
close-ended questions. The analysis of the questionnaire highlighted that the majority of the
students (45.45%) agreed that they feel uncomfortable in the absence of Smartphones. The reasons
behind this is feeling annoyed for unable to look-up for the information when needed (36.364%) or
feeling nervous as unable to check for the weather latest happenings. These findings suggest that
Smartphones have now become an object for dependence over which the young generation relies
on. The excess of dependability generates an addiction towards the Smartphones. The study
conducted by Gökçearslan et al. (2016) stated that increase usage of the Smartphones is directly
proportional to the tendency of generation of the Smartphone addiction. the development of the
Smartphone addiction is leads to an increase in the tendency of cyberloafing or tendency to surf
internet for every single cause and this tendency in turn hampers the process of self-regulation
causing negative emotions like anxiety, tension and nervousness. All these addictions contribute
towards the development of nomophobia (Gökçearslan et al., 2016). The high risk of nomophobia
among the university students is also reflected on the tendency of the university students to develop
panic attacks when they notice that their Smartphone battery is running out or they are limiting to
their mobile’ monthly internet data. At least 27.273% agreed and 9.091% strongly agreed that they
are scared when they are running out of battery or internet data. This trait denotes active
intervention because as per the study conducted by Han, Kim and Kim (2017) the anxiety or fear that
steams from the low battery or low internet data signals is associated with the Smartphone
separation anxiety. The Smartphone separation anxiety elicits a signal of losing a connection from
their virtual world, which they think real, and loves to maneuver within it. The addiction to this
virtual world is the root cause behind the nomophobia and demands and increases the vulnerability
of depression and social isolation even while remaining connected with the online social media.
According to the survey conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and published by
Canadian Mental Health Association (2018), at least 86% of the college student visits social media
sites regularly and 16% of them spend at-least 5 hours of day in surfing online social networks. This
frequent visit to social networking sites leads to mood alternation along with dissociation and dis-
inhibition of experiences, two of the leading causes behind the nomophobia.
Though certain logical concerns are also reflected behind the detachment of the
Smartphones like failing to connect with the family members or friends or other important persons,
few alarming concerns are also highlighted in the survey like the university students stated that the
fear of feeling disconnected from the online world (strongly agree: 18.182%) or the online identity
(agree: 9.091%) or fear or loosing social media updated over phone (slightly agree: 27.273% and
agree: 9.091%). This fear of losing online identity or the social media updates is associated with fear
if getting missing out. The results conducted by Kuss and Griffiths (2017) stated that young adults or
adolescents social media usage is the main locus of control in their life. When asked what they are
fond of doing apart from social media, they sounded clueless. This highlighted that they suffer from
social isolation, loneliness and strong identity. Durak (2018) recommended immediate intervention
in order to recover from nomophobia and the sense of loneliness or depression.

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PROBLEM INVESTIGATION REPORT
The ratio of nomophobia among university
students
Not at all nomophobic
Mild nomophobia
Moderate nomophobia
Severe nomophobia
Source: Created by author
The survey results of the UFV students can in competent in order to highlight the exact
scenario of the mental state of nomophobicity of the university students due to poor sample size.
However, Kuss and Griffiths (2017) proposed for the educational or awareness campaign in order to
reduce the tendency of developing nomophobia among the young adults and reduce probability of
the vulnerable population from developing nomophobia.
Approach
According to Global Road Safety Partnership (2019), a good public awareness campaign is a
strong call for action represented through a proper story line to a specific target audience under
relatable terms. Effective public awareness campaign aims to bring change in the public behavior.
However, the message communicated through public health awareness campaign must be short,
clear and unambiguous.
Peraman and Parasuraman (2016) stated that mobile phone mania is a rising public health
concern. The over-usage of the Smartphone leads to the generation of nomophobia or mobile phone
addiction. The public health awareness program is considered to be an important approach for
overcoming this public health concern and arising awareness among the population (Peraman &
Parasuraman, 2016).
Stages of public health awareness-program for promotion of awareness about the mobile
addiction and nomophobia
Research
Target population: The main target group for this public health awareness program is the
university students based on the results obtained from the survey
Set the target
Problem: Nomophobia
Objectives

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PROBLEM INVESTIGATION REPORT
(i) Reduction in the mobile addiction
(ii) Engagement in healthy lifestyle habits like reading books, taking part in debates or
indulging into physical activity
(iiI) Chosen method of behavior change: Observation on mobile phone usage during college
hours
Plan of the Campaign
Supporting activity: Supports from the students (volunteer) and physical fitness trainer
Manager: Community health nurse from the nearby community mental health centre
Use of the Right skills
The main skills to be used in order for the promotion of the public health campaign include
setting up interactive sessions by student volunteer with the help of power-point presentations. The
presentations will include harmful effects of mobile addiction, how nomophobia or addiction to
mobile phones is endangering our mental health equilibrium. These interactive sessions will help to
increase the awareness among the college students about the harmful effects of mobile usage.
The awareness program will be followed by the mindfulness-based therapy procured by the
mental health nursing after the end of the class to increase the resilience and concentration power
among the students and decrease the rate of distractions obtained to mobile phones
The help will be taken from the professors to band mobile phone during the college hours
except during recess time. The banding mobile phones will help to train the students to train their
mind in the absence of mobile phones. The professors’ help will also be taken host debate
competition based on subjects taught in class. This will help to increase the tendency to study books
or the learning material
The physical fitness trainer will be used to train educated about the importance f physical
fitness and regular exercise. The regular practice of physical activity will help to bring additional
engagement in life
Communication Brief
Behavioural objective include
 Increase in concentration power
 Decrease in distractions
 Improved self-esteem
Social objectives
 Increase in Social participation
Communication Brief
Effective communication among the stakeholders by the use of both verbal and non-verbal
communication skills to exchange the planning details of campaign
Seek Expertise
 Mental health nurse, professors and lifestyle experts
 Develop Campaign
 Active support from university
 Timing: After the class

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PROBLEM INVESTIGATION REPORT
Implementation
Promotion of Campaign done in college notice board and university portal
Evaluation of the impact
Observation and self-reported questionnaire (survey)
Conclusion
Benefits of nomophobia campaign at UFV will help to overcome the mobile phone addiction
among the university students and will also help to increase their academic performance. However,
the campaign has certain limitations like the students might not be willing to take part in awareness
program after their college hours and banding mobile phones during class might generate student
unrest

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PROBLEM INVESTIGATION REPORT
Plan Campaign
Dear Ma’am,
In regard to the campaign outline described above, I seek your permission to host public
awareness campaign against nomophobia. Though campaign has certain limitations as mentioned
above, involvement of active yet smart student volunteers and support from professors will help to
increase student interest to take active part in the campaign.
Early waiting for your positive reply in order to proceed further.
Regards,

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PROBLEM INVESTIGATION REPORT
References
Bragazzi, N. L., & Del Puente, G. (2014). A proposal for including nomophobia in the new DSM-
V. Psychology research and behavior management, 7, 155.
Canadian Mental Health Association. (2019). Addictions and Problematic Internet Use. Access date:
6th of March 2019. Retrieved from: https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/addictions-and-
problematic-internet-use/
Durak, H. Y. (2018). What would you do without your smartphone? Adolescents’ social media usage,
locus of control, and loneliness as a predictor of nomophobia. Addicta-The Turkish Journal
On Addictions, 5(3), 543-557.
Elmore, T. (2014, Sept. 18). "Nomophobia: A rising trend in students. [Blog post]. Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/artificialmaturity/201409/nomophobia-rising-
trend-in-students
Global Road Safety Partnership. (2019). Elements of a Good Public Awareness Campaign: At a
Glance. Access date: 6th March 2019. Retrieved from:
http://legacy.grsproadsafety.org/sites/default/files/PAC%20Elements%20-%20At%20a
%20glance-%20ENG.pdf
Gökçearslan, Ş., Mumcu, F. K., Haşlaman, T., & Çevik, Y. D. (2016). Modelling smartphone addiction:
The role of smartphone usage, self-regulation, general self-efficacy and cyberloafing in
university students. Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 639-649.
Han, S., Kim, K. J., & Kim, J. H. (2017). Understanding nomophobia: structural equation modeling and
semantic network analysis of smartphone separation anxiety. Cyberpsychology, Behavior,
and Social Networking, 20(7), 419-427.
King, A. L. S., Valença, A. M., Silva, A. C. O., Baczynski, T., Carvalho, M. R., & Nardi, A. E. (2013).
Nomophobia: Dependency on virtual environments or social phobia?. Computers in Human
Behavior, 29(1), 140-144.
Kuss, D., & Griffiths, M. (2017). Social networking sites and addiction: Ten lessons
learned. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(3), 311.
Peraman, R., & Parasuraman, S. (2016). Mobile phone mania: Arising global threat in public
health. Journal of natural science, biology, and medicine, 7(2), 198.
Uysal, Ş., Lisesi, K. A., & Madenoğlu, C. (2016). Social phobia in higher education: The influence of
nomophobia on social phobia. The Global eLearning Journal, 5(2). Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/302411001_Social_Phobia_in_Higher_Edu
cation_The_Influence_of_Nomophobia_on_Social_Phobia
Yildirim, C., & Correia, A. P. (2015). Exploring the dimensions of nomophobia: Development and
validation of a self-reported questionnaire. Computers in Human Behavior, 49, 130-137.