Nomophobia Questionnaire
Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) · Also known as: NMP-Q, Nomophobia, Fear of Being Without Phone
The Nomophobia Questionnaire measures 'nomophobia'—the fear of being without one's mobile phone—a contemporary form of technology-related psychological distress emerging with smartphone ubiquity. Developed by Yildirim and Correia (2015), the 20-item NMP-Q captures anxiety, compulsive checking, communication apprehension, and negative perceptions about being unreachable, reflecting the extent to which individuals depend on smartphones for functioning and sense of security.
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When to use it
Screen adolescents and young adults presenting with anxiety, sleep disruption, or poor academic/work performance to assess whether nomophobia is a contributing factor. Incorporate into comprehensive digital wellness assessment alongside social media anxiety, internet addiction, and cyberbullying victimization. Use in schools and universities to estimate prevalence and identify high-risk students. Include in epidemiological surveys of adolescent mental health and technology use. Use in research examining mechanisms linking smartphone use to mental health outcomes.
Strengths & limitations
- Captures contemporary psychological phenomenon: Nomophobia is uniquely relevant to smartphone-dependent populations; measures a modern form of anxiety not captured by traditional scales.
- Four-factor structure provides diagnostic detail: Subscales reveal whether anxiety centers on communication loss, social disconnection, information access, or convenience/productivity, enabling targeted interventions.
- Strong psychometric properties: Cronbach's alpha 0.91; validated in diverse international samples (US, Turkey, China, Brazil, Portugal); shows temporal stability.
- Clinical relevance: Associated with depression (r~0.45–0.55), anxiety (r~0.50–0.60), sleep problems (r~0.40–0.50), and risky behaviours; useful for identifying vulnerable youth.
- Cultural specificity: Nomophobia prevalence and severity varies substantially across countries; measures developed in one cultural context may not generalize. Smartphone accessibility and cultural norms about constant connectivity differ.
- Confounds with functionality and safety: In some contexts, being without phone is genuinely risky (safety for vulnerable populations, family contact). Nomophobia assessment cannot distinguish pathological anxiety from realistic concern.
- Does not distinguish use patterns: Nomophobia reflects anxiety about separation, not frequency or type of use. Heavy functional users may have low nomophobia; compulsive users may have high anxiety but moderate overall use time.
- Limited temporal stability longitudinally: Initial research shows moderate test-retest reliability (r~0.65–0.75) over 2–4 weeks; longer-term stability less established.
Frequently asked
Is nomophobia a real psychiatric disorder?
Nomophobia is not yet a formal DSM-5 diagnosis, but it is recognized as a specific form of anxiety related to technology dependence. High nomophobia (NMP-Q ≥120) often co-occurs with diagnosed anxiety, depression, or behavioral addiction. Clinicians treat nomophobia-related anxiety using cognitive-behavioral therapy and digital wellness interventions.
Can nomophobia be treated?
Yes. Interventions include: (1) cognitive-behavioral therapy addressing anxiety cognitions and catastrophizing about disconnection; (2) behavioral experiments (progressive exposure to phone-free periods); (3) mindfulness and anxiety management; (4) family therapy establishing healthy phone boundaries; (5) treatment of comorbid depression/anxiety. Prognosis is good for motivated adolescents.
What is the relationship between nomophobia and phone use duration?
Moderate positive correlation (r~0.35–0.50): youth who use phones longer typically report higher nomophobia. However, the relationship is not deterministic; some heavy users have low nomophobia, while some light users experience high anxiety. Both use pattern and emotional dependence matter.
Do older adults experience nomophobia?
Research is limited, but emerging evidence suggests older adults may experience nomophobia differently. Those strongly integrated into digital communication (video calls with grandchildren, medication reminders, health monitoring) show anxiety about disconnection; conversely, older adults less invested in phones show minimal nomophobia. Age alone does not predict nomophobia.
Sources
- 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. DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2015.02.059 ↗
- King, A. L., Valença, A. M., & Silva, A. C. (2013). Nomophobia: Diagnosis and interventions. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(1), 26–32. link ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q). ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/health-informatics/nomophobia-questionnaire
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