Loneliness and nomophobia in the context of risks to mental health: smartphone addiction

Introduction and objective: In the hierarchy of needs theory, Maslow emphasises that individuals need to establish and maintain close relationships with others to meet their love and belonging needs. People overcome loneliness by fulfilling this need. Loneliness can also be defined as an unsatisfied experience in which individuals gain no satisfaction from their social relationships. This study examines the mediating role of smartphone addiction in the relationship between nomophobia and loneliness. The study was carried out with a correlational research design, which reflects the direction and/or strength of the relationship between variables. Materials and methods: Data were gathered from 357 university students (Mage = 19.90, SDage = 1.85). The Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Smartphone Addiction Scale were used for data collection. Regression-based mediation analysis tested the mediating effect of smartphone addiction on the relationship between nomophobia and loneliness. Results: The analyses showed a positive and statistically significant correlation between nomophobia and loneliness. Conclusions: While loneliness has a direct effect on nomophobia, nomophobic behaviours may decrease with the addition of addiction symptoms. Considering factors such as smartphone battery life (e.g. charging), sudden anxiety may directly trigger nomophobia and influence behaviours such as reduced engagement in social media and game-playing.