Assessment of nomophobia and its determinants among adults and adolescents in Semi-urban Chennai.

Introduction: The mobile phone has evolved into an indispensable accessory carried by everyone. With its increasing usage, there is a parallel rise in mobile phone addictions. Nomophobia, short for no mobile phone phobia, is characterized as a fear specific to the absence of mobile phones. Objectives: (1) To assess the prevalence of nomophobia among adolescents and adults residing in semi‑urban Chennai. (2) To understand the patterns of mobile phone usage and explore the health‑related consequences of nomophobia. Methods: This cross‑sectional study was conducted among adolescents and adults (15–50 years) in semi‑urban Chennai from July to September 2022. The sample size was 220, and the study utilized the Test of Mobile Phone Dependence Brief as an assessment tool. Participants scoring >30 were identified as nomophobic, indicating mobile phone dependence. Results: Among the 220 study participants, there was an almost equal distribution between males and females, with a majority falling within the 21–25 age group. Approximately 26.1% belonged to the upper middle class and 89.1% were married. The prevalence of nomophobia was notably high at 68.6% (151 out of 220). A significant association was found between social class and mobile phone addiction, with the middle class exhibiting higher levels of addiction. Conclusion: The study highlights that a substantial majority of adults exhibit mobile phone addiction, almost two‑thirds of the participants. There is a pressing need for health awareness programmes targeting adults to educate them about the adverse effects of mobile phone addiction. Additionally, reinforcing strategies for effective and time‑restricted mobile phone usage is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]