The Identification of No Mobile Phone Phobia (Nomophobia) Level in

Aceh

Ayu Selvi Mansyur, Kartika Sari, Haiyun Nisa and Marty Mawarpury

Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Indonesia

Keywords: Nomophobia, Smartphone, Level

Abstract: This study aims to identify the level of nomophobia in Aceh. This study uses a quantitative design with survey

design methods, the sample in the study amounted to 497 samples with some characteristics which are as a

part of the population of Aceh province with an age range of 18-54 years who use smartphones. The results

showed that the level of dominant nomophobia was at a moderate level. The chi-square test results showed

that the routine variable checking a smartphone in a day and the total time of smartphone use in a day had a

significant influence on the level of individual nomophobia tendencies (p=0,000, p<0,05). Analysis shows

that as many as 54.1% of individuals feel anxious when unable to communicate via smartphone, 52.7% of

individuals feel anxious when they lose their connection through smartphones, 51.1% of individuals feel

uncomfortable due to being unable to access information through smartphones, and as much as 46.7% of

individuals feel uncomfortable when they have to give up the convenience provided by a smartphone. This

means that most individuals feel anxious and uncomfortable when they cannot use a smartphone.

1 INTRODUCTION

The advantages and conveniences provided by

smartphones make smartphones the most popular

technological devices in various circles, ranging from

students, college students, workers, and housewives

(Asosiasi Penyelanggara Jasa Internet Indonesia

(APJII), 2016). This popularity occurs because

smartphones allow users to be able to carry out

various daily activities on one device (Gezgin &

Çakır, 2016), such as can make calls, send messages,

MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), e-mail,

video, photography, bluetooth, can connect to the

internet at high speed using 4G LTE (Fourth

Generation Long Term Evolution), download various

applications other than the default application ,

playing games, having motion sensors, navigation,

online payments, listen to the radio and music,

schedule appointments, online shopping, use social

networks, read and write documents, store various

data and more (Nath & Mukherjee, 2015; Gezgin,

Sumuer, Arslan, & Yildirim, 2017).. This

convenience also encourages users to spend more

time using their smartphones. When users consider

smartphones as part of themselves, users tend to

become attached to these devices, which then directs

users to nomophobia (Han, Kim, & Kim, 2017).

Nomophobia, or the abbreviation for no-mobile-

phone phobia, is fear when you can't use a cellphone

(SecurEnvoy, 2012).

Yildirim and Correia (2015) describe nomophobia

as a form of side effect from the interaction between

humans and information technology and mobile

communication which is currently one of the

developing problems in various countries. Based on a

survey conducted by SecurEnvoy (2012) on 1000

employees in the UK showed results that the number

of people who experiencing nomophobia increased

from 53% in 2008 to 66% in 2012. SecurEnvoy

(2012) found that the age group of 18-24 years was a

group which has the highest nomophobie (individual

nomophobia) with 77%, followed by the 25-53 years

age group with 68% nomophobie.

Another problem with nomophobia was also

found in a study conducted by Gezgin, Sumuer et al.

(2017) in Turkey with 818 intern teachers. The results

of the study indicated that the nomophobia behavior

in the apprentice teacher is at a level higher than the

average level of nompohobia behavior, with a mean

value on the nomophobia scale of 3.96. Other

research related to nomophobia was also conducted

by Gezgin and Çakır (2016) on 475 high school

students in Izmir and Edirne, Turkey. The results

Mansyur, A., Sari, K., Nisa, H. and Mawarpury, M.

The Identiﬁcation of No Mobile Phone Phobia (Nomophobia) Level in Aceh.

DOI: 10.5220/0009438100950099

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Psychology (ICPsy 2019), pages 95-99

ISBN: 978-989-758-448-0

showed that the behavior of nomophobia in high

school students was at a slightly higher level than the

average level of nompohobia behavior, with a mean

value of nomophobia scale of 3.72. Other studies

related to nomophobia (Dixit, et al., 2010;

SecurEnvoy, 2012; King, Valenca, Silva,

Sancassiani, et al., 2014; Mayangsari & Ariana, 2015;

Pavithra, Madhukumar, & Murthy, 2015; Yildirim &

Correia, 2015 ; Gezgin & Çakır, 2016; Prasetyo &

Ariana, 2016; Rossa, 2016; Gezgin, 2017; Gezgin,

Sumuer, et al., 2017; Han, et al., 2017; Kanmani,

Bhavani, & Margatham, 2017; King, Guedes, et al.,

2017; Salloju, 2017; Wahyuni & Harmaini, 2017)

showed the results that although each individual owns

and uses a smartphone in his daily life, these

individuals are classified at different levels of

nomophobia. Research conducted by Yildirim and

Correia (2015) explains that nomophobia can be

divided into four different levels, namely the first

level is the lowest level that does not have

nomophobia, the second level is the level of mild

nomophobia, the third level is the level of moderate

nomophobia, and the level fourth is the level of severe

nomophobia.

The problem emergence of nomophobia is also

inseparable from the use of the internet by

smartphone users. Asosiasi Penyelanggara Jasa

Internet Indonesia and Pusat Kajian Komunikasi UI

(APJII and PusKaKom) (2016) reported that the

college students were the highest group of internet

users in terms of the type of work, then followed by

group of student on the second, and worker on the

third place. The use of smartphones in various age

groups and types of work, and the availability of

internet service can lead to an increase in the number

of smartphone users who have a tendency to

nomophobia (Gezgin & Çakır, 2016; Mulyar, 2016),

which is one of the locations with potential

nomophobia is in Aceh. The purpose of this study is

to identify the level of nomophobia tendencies in

Aceh.

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

Nomophobia refers to agoraphobia-associated

situational phobia (fear of losing control, fainting,

being crowded and feeling uncomfortable in public

places, therefore the Diagnostic and Statistical

Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) includes

agoraphobia-associated panic disorder among its list

of anxiety disorders), including fear when sick and

unable to get help immediately (King, Valenca, Silva,

Sancassiani, dkk., 2014). If an individual cannot be

connected to his or her cell phone for 24 hours, the

individual will develop anxiety and panic symptoms.

And those, anxiety or discomfort in the 24-hour

without the use of cellphones, computers, or other

virtual communication devices in individuals who are

used to them, is referred to by King, Valenca, Silva,

Baczynski, et al. (2013) as a sign of nomophobia.

Nomophobia negatively affects individuals' daily

lives, both psychologically and physically.

Nomophobic individuals will feel anxious, sad, and

uncomfortable (King, Guedes, et al., 2017) if they

forget the cell phone at home, run out of battery, or

when the cell phone loses signal (Gezgin, Sumuer, et

al., 2017) and this can disrupt and reduce individual

concentration (Dixit, et al., 2010). Nomophobia

causes an individual to feel incomplete or empty

without a cellphone, individuals constantly check

their cellphone even when the cellphone is with them,

feel hopeless when the battery runs out, and are afraid

to forget the cellphone somewhere, dead or unable to

use it (Gezgin, Sumuer, et al., 2017), and individuals

also become more easily distracted and unfocused on

learning and working.

Yildirim and Correia (2015) define nomophobia

as fear of not being able to use a smartphone or

cellphone and/or the services it offers, and referring

to the fear of not being able to communicate, losing

the connection provided by a smartphone, not being

able to access information via smartphone, and

submitting the facilities provided by smartphone.

Furthermore, Yildirim and Correia (2015) explain

that individuals with nomophobia (nomophobie) have

irrational fears and feel strong anxiety and sadness

when they cannot use their smartphone and

individuals will try to reduce the possibility that

makes it unable to use a smartphone. Yildirim and

Correia (2015) stated that nomophobia has four main

dimensions, namely not being able to communicate,

losing connectedness, not being able to access

information, and giving up convenience.

3 RESEARCH METHOD

This research used a quantitative research design with

survey design methods. The study involved 497

samples with some characteristic limitations, which

were the population of the province of Aceh, in the

age range of 18-54 years, and using smartphones. The

results of research conducted by Rossa (2016), at one

of the faculties at the Syiah Kuala University in

Banda Aceh, showed that more than half of the

students used as research samples were at the level of

moderate to severe nomophobia. Along with this

ICPsy 2019 - International Conference on Psychology

result, researchers felt the need to conduct research in

order to detect the problem of nomophobic tendencies

in Aceh. Based on the data from APJII (2016), the age

ranges categorized by the three highest groups who

mostly use internet. The study used the NMP-Q scale

which was compiled and developed by Yildirim and

Correia (2015) based on four dimensions of

nomophobia that consists of 20 favorable items.

Research data was collected through online and

manual scale dissemination. The validity of the NMP-

Q scale was tested using construct validity between

NMP-Q and MPIQ with correlation coefficient (r)=

0.710, and reliability tested with SPSS showed that

the coefficient of alpha cronbach is 0.896.

Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive

statistical analysis methods, Crosstab, and Chi-

Square Test for Independent. Crosstab and Chi-

Square tests were conducted to see the relationship

between nomophobia levels and demographic data

such as gender, age group, the routine of checking

smartphones, and the total active time of smartphone

use in a day.

4 RESULT

This study aims to identify the level of nomophobia

in Aceh. Based on the results of the analysis that has

been carried out, it is found that the level of

nomophobia on the subject is spread at each level of

nomophobia. Based on the data obtained, most

subjects occupy the level of moderate nomophobia

with a percentage of 63.4% or equivalent to 315

subjects and then the second highest position is at the

level of severe nomophobia with a percentage of

27.2% or equivalent to 135 subjects. The third

position is at the level of mild nomophobia with a

percentage of 9.1% or as many as 45 subjects, and in

the last position that is at the level of no nomophobia

there are only 2 subjects or equal to 0.4%. The

distribution of subject data at each level can be seen

in the table below:

Table 1: Nomophobia Level

NOMOPHOBIA LEVEL

SUBJECTS

(%)

NO NOMOPHOBIA

0.4

MILD NOMOPHOBIA

9.1

MODERATE

NOMOPHOBIA

315

63.4

SEVERE NOMOPHOBIA

135

27.2

5 DISCUSSION

The result show that each nomophobia level shows

differences in individual behavior related to

smartphone use. At the level most dominated by the

subject of research, which is the level of moderate

nomophobia, individuals show behavior as checking

notifications on smartphones quite often as

approximately every 30 minutes, checking and using

a smartphone in inappropriate situations, such as

using a smartphone during study hours or while

talking with other people, and feel anxious and

uncomfortable if they cannot use a smartphone for a

long time (Dixit, et al., 2010; Pavithra, et al., 2015;

Yildirim & Correia, 2015; Prasetyo & Ariana, 2016;

Kanmani, et al., 2017). The results of the analysis also

showed that as many as 269 subjects (54.1%)

experienced anxiety when unable to communicate via

smartphone, 262 subjects (52.7%) were anxious when

they lost their connection through smartphones, 254

subjects (51.1%) felt they were uncomfortable due to

not being able to access information through a

smartphone, and as many as 232 subjects (46.7%) felt

uncomfortable when they had to surrender the

convenience provided by a smartphone.

The results also found that the distribution of

subjects at each level of nomophobia on gender

variables showed different results, which the

frequency of the largest subjects was at the level of

moderate nomophobia, namely male as many as 135

subjects (67.2%), and women as many as 180 subjects

(61.2%). The lowest frequency of subjects was found

at the level of mild nomophobia with male subjects as

many as 24 subjects (11.9%) and women as many as

21 subjects (7.1%). In the age variable, the frequency

of the largest subjects was in the age group of 22-39

who had moderate nomophobia with a total of 158

subjects (64.5%), the lowest frequency of subjects

was in the age group of 40-54 who were at the level

of severe nomophobia with number of 3 subjects

(9.1%).

The highest frequency of variable routine

checking smartphone in a day, was in the group who

check smartphone every less than 10 minutes and

others which at the level of moderate nomophobia

with 99 subjects (60.4%) and the lowest frequency

was in the group who check smartphone less than 10

minutes and others which at the level of mild

nomophobia with 5 subjects (3.0 /%). Variable total

time of smartphone use has the highest frequency in

groups with a total usage time of 3-5 hours and was

at the moderate nomophobia level of 120 subjects

(71.0%), the lowest frequency was in the group with

The Identiﬁcation of No Mobile Phone Phobia (Nomophobia) Level in Aceh

total usage time more than 10 hours, which was a

number of 2 subjects (2.0%).

The highest number of subjects on variables the

routine checking smartphones and total active time of

smartphone use in a day can occur due to the strong

attachment subject to the smartphone that enacts

subject make the smartphone as an extension of itself

(extended self) (Han, et al., 2017). Mobile

communication devices that facilitate the daily

activities of the subject and as a place to store

personal memories of the subject, direct the subject to

check smartphone more frequently with a longer

duration of usage (Arif et al., 2016; Ting, Lim,

Patanmacia, Low, & Ker, 2011; Gezgin & Skill,

2016; Gezgin, 2017; Han, et al., 2017).

The analysis also found that differences in

nomophobia levels were found in variables routine

checking smartphones and the total active time of

smartphone use in a day with a significant difference

of 0,000 (p=0,000, p<0,05) however, differences

were not found in sex variables and age. The results

related to the routine of checking smartphones a day

in this study were in line with the results of research

conducted by Gezgin (2017) and Gezgin's, Sumuer,

et al. (2017). The results of the study indicate that

there were significant differences in the number of

times a smartphone checks a day for individuals. This

study also found that there were significant

differences (p=0,000, p<0,05) regarding the routine

of checking smartphones a day for each individual.

The results of this study indicate that the period of

checking a smartphone for 30 minutes was the time

most often done by individuals. Gezgin (2017) states

that the level of nomophobia tends to be higher in

individuals who have a routine of checking

smartphones more often in a day.

The results of this study related to the total time of

active smartphone use in a day in line with the

research conducted by Gezgin, Sumuer, et al. (2017)

and Gezgin, Cakir, et al. (2018) which stated that the

longer the duration of smartphone use, the higher the

tendency of individuals to experience nomophobia.

The results in this study indicate that there were

significant differences (p=0,000, p<0,05) related to

the total time of active use of smartphones in a day to

individuals toward the level of nomophobia. These

results illustrated that the more the total time of

smartphone use in a day for individuals, the higher

level of nomophobia tendency experienced by

individuals.

6 CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study show that individuals were

spread at every level of nomophobia. Most of the

research samples were at the level of moderate

nomophobia, which means that individuals tend to

show the behavior of checking notifications on

smartphones quite often, checking and using

smartphones in inappropriate situations, such as using

a smartphone during study hours and feeling anxious

and uncomfortable if cannot use a smartphone for a

long period. The results also showed that the

demographic variables of routine checking

smartphones and the total time of smartphone use in

a day had a significant influence on the level of

individual nomophobia tendencies. Nomophobia may

harm the daily lives of individuals, so it would be

better if individuals were aware of the dangers of

nomophobia and reduced the risk behaviors that

increasing the level of nomophobia.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author gratefully acknowledges the contributions

of Kartika Sari, Haiyun Nisa, and Marty Mawarpury

for helping the author to improve better paper

research.

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The Identiﬁcation of No Mobile Phone Phobia (Nomophobia) Level in Aceh