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Cited by 47Impact of Technology on AdolescentsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesGender and Technology in Education

Assessing Nomophobia: Validation Study of the European Portuguese Version of the Nomophobia Questionnaire

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Galhardo, Ana, Loureiro, Daniela, Raimundo, Elsa, Massano-Cardoso, Ilda, Cunha, Marina·2020·Community Mental Health Journal
DOI 10.1007/s10597-020-00600-z
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Abstract

Nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia) can be defined as a situational phobia described by the fear of not having a smartphone available or being incapable of accessing the Internet. Based on these characteristics, the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) was designed, showing a four-factor structure and good psychometric characteristics. The current study intended to adapt the NMP-Q to European Portuguese (NMP-Q-PT) and test its factor structure and psychometric properties. Five hundred participants from the general population (convenience sampling) filled in the NMP-Q-PT, the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21). Three models were tested through confirmatory factor analysis. One higher order factor (global nomophobia) with four lower order factors revealed a good fit to the data. The NMP-Q-PT presented excellent consistency, construct and discriminant validity, as well as good concurrent and divergent validities. Overall, the NMP-Q-PT showed to be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring nomophobia.

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  • The consequences of nomophobia are similar to those produced by problematic social media use, including excessive use and negative effects on the user's mood like feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and unhappiness, especially among young people.

    “The consequences of nomophobia are similar to those produced by problematic social media use, including excessive use and negative effects on the user's mood like feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and unhappiness, especially among young people (Galhardo et al., 2020).”

    From Problematic use of social media in adolescents or excessive social gratification? The mediating role of nomophobia (2024) · cites this paper as Galhardo et al., 2020

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

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  • The preference for online social interaction and the fear of losing this connection contribute significantly to problematic social media use.

    “Thus, the preference for online social interaction and the fear of losing this connection contribute significantly to problematic social media use (Arpaci, 2022;Galhardo et al., 2020;Rodríguez-García et al., 2020).”

    From Problematic use of social media in adolescents or excessive social gratification? The mediating role of nomophobia (2024) · cites this paper as Galhardo et al., 2020

    The Discussion (page unavailable) describes fear of losing connectedness and being detached from an online identity, especially on social media. An introductory passage also mentions a tendency to choose communication through new technologies. But the paper does not report that either factor contributes significantly to problematic social media use; it examines nomophobia rather than that outcome. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Nomophobia is related to a preference for constant online social interaction (use oriented toward social gratification) and is usually associated with problematic use of social networks.

    “Nomophobia is also related to a preference for constant online social interaction (use oriented toward social gratification) and is usually associated with the problematic use of social networks (Arpaci, 2022;Galhardo et al., 2020;Rodríguez-García et al., 2020).”

    From Problematic use of social media in adolescents or excessive social gratification? The mediating role of nomophobia (2024) · cites this paper as Galhardo et al., 2020

    The Instruments and Discussion sections describe ‘losing connectedness’ as a dimension of nomophobia, including distress about being detached from an online identity, particularly on social media. They do not establish a preference for online interaction as social gratification or say that nomophobia is usually associated with problematic social-network use. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The constant gratification obtained using social networks produces negative consequences on the well-being of adolescents, such as the fear of not being connected or a negative mood.

    “The positive and significant relationship between social use and nomophobia (β = .53,p < .001)indicates that the constant gratification obtained using social networks produces negative consequences on the well-being of adolescents, such as the fear of not being connected or a negative mood (Galhardo et al., 2020;Kaviani et al., 2020).”

    From Problematic use of social media in adolescents or excessive social gratification? The mediating role of nomophobia (2024) · cites this paper as Galhardo et al., 2020

    The introduction describes nomophobia as fear of being without a smartphone or Internet, and says excessive smartphone use can induce negative emotions. The Discussion links losing connectedness to social media, but says this study's participants were over 18. The paper does not establish that constant gratification from social networks causes negative mood or other harms in adolescents. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The fear of not being connected to social networks can increase the negative consequences of excessive or inappropriate social media use among adolescents.

    “Significantly, the fear of not being connected to social networks can increase the negative consequences of excessive or inappropriate social media use among adolescents (Galhardo et al., 2020;Kaviani et al., 2020).”

    From Problematic use of social media in adolescents or excessive social gratification? The mediating role of nomophobia (2024) · cites this paper as Galhardo et al., 2020

    The Discussion (page not available) describes anxiety about losing online connectedness, including on social networks. Another passage (section labeled “1 3,” page not available) says excessive smartphone use can interfere with daily life or induce negative emotions. The paper does not say that fear of disconnection increases the harms of excessive social media use among adolescents; its Portuguese study participants were over 18. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Galhardo, A., Loureiro, D., Raimundo, E., Massano-Cardoso, I., & Cunha, M.
Affiliations
Instituto Superior Miguel Torga (PT)
Corresponding author
Galhardo, Ana
ORCID
Venue
Community Mental Health Journal
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2020-03-11
Volume
56
Issue
8
Pages
1521-1530
ISSN
  • 0010-3853 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2789
DOI
10.1007/s10597-020-00600-z
OpenAlex
W3011076629
Cited by
47
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1
FWCI
10.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Community Mental Health Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Technology in Education
Keywords
nomophobia, Nomophobia Questionnaire, psychometric validation, smartphone addiction, factor structure, higher-order factor model, internet access, anxiety, depression, stress
MeSH terms
Factor Analysis, Statistical, Humans, Phobic Disorders, Portugal, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Reproducibility of Results

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