Smartphone distraction and its behavioral outcomes: Phubbing and nomophobia among Malaysian youths

Technological advancements have significantly increased the efficiency of daily tasks, with smartphones emerging as the most commonly used devices among Malaysian youths. However, this widespread usage has led to behavioral concerns such as phubbing and nomophobia. Phubbing refers to the tendency to ignore others in favor of smartphone use, while nomophobia describes the anxiety experienced when individuals are disconnected from their smartphones or mobile networks. Nomophobia manifests through various social, psychological, and physical symptoms, reflecting a growing dependence on mobile devices. Smartphones now serve multiple functions, including internet browsing, social media access, entertainment, online shopping, photography, and navigation, making their use a defining trait of modern youth. Despite this, research on phubbing and nomophobia in Malaysia remains limited. This study aims to examine the influence of social media addiction, smartphone addiction, nomophobia, internet addiction, and other digital-based behavioral addictions on phubbing behavior among Malaysian youths. Data were collected through a questionnaire-based survey and analyzed using SPSS. The findings reveal that social media addiction, smartphone use, and nomophobia are strong predictors of phubbing behavior, while internet addiction and other digital distractions show moderate associations. Additionally, a moderate positive relationship was found between smartphone distraction and nomophobia in relation to phubbing behavior.