<p>Are you a nomophobe? Researchers can tell! US researchers have developed a questionnaire that can determine if you suffer from nomophobia or a fear of being without your mobile phone.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Caglar Yildirim, a PhD student in human computer interaction at the Iowa State University (ISU), and Ana-Paula Correia, an associate professor in ISU's School of Education, have identified four dimensions of this modern-day phobia.<br /><br />In the study published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, study participants were asked to respond to statements on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree).<br /><br />Total scores were calculated by adding the responses to each item. The higher scores corresponded to greater nomophobia severity.<br /><br />The questionnaire includes statements such as: I would feel uncomfortable without constant access to information through my smartphone; I would be annoyed if I could not look information up on my smartphone when I wanted to do so; Being unable to get the news (eg, happenings, weather, etc) on my smartphone would make me nervous.<br /><br />Other statements said I would be annoyed if I could not use my smartphone and/or its capabilities when I wanted to do so; Running out of battery in my smartphone would scare me; If I were to run out of credits or hit my monthly data limit, I would panic; and if I did not have a data signal or could not connect to Wi-Fi, then I would constantly check to see if I had a signal or could find a Wi-Fi network.<br /><br />The study participants also answered these statements: If I could not use my smartphone, I would be afraid of getting stranded somewhere; and if I could not check my smartphone for a while, I would feel a desire to check it.<br /><br />Another section of the questionnaire asked study participants how they would react if they did not have their smartphone with them.<br /><br />They responded to the following statements: I would feel anxious because I could not instantly communicate with my family and/or friends; I would feel nervous because I would not be able to receive text messages and calls; I would be uncomfortable because I could not stay up-to-date with social media and online networks; and I would feel weird because I would not know what to do.<br /><br />Other statements were: I would be anxious because I could not keep in touch with my family and/or friends; I would be nervous because I could not know if someone had tried to get a hold of me; and I would be nervous because I would be disconnected from my online identity. <br /></p>
<p>Are you a nomophobe? Researchers can tell! US researchers have developed a questionnaire that can determine if you suffer from nomophobia or a fear of being without your mobile phone.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Caglar Yildirim, a PhD student in human computer interaction at the Iowa State University (ISU), and Ana-Paula Correia, an associate professor in ISU's School of Education, have identified four dimensions of this modern-day phobia.<br /><br />In the study published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, study participants were asked to respond to statements on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree).<br /><br />Total scores were calculated by adding the responses to each item. The higher scores corresponded to greater nomophobia severity.<br /><br />The questionnaire includes statements such as: I would feel uncomfortable without constant access to information through my smartphone; I would be annoyed if I could not look information up on my smartphone when I wanted to do so; Being unable to get the news (eg, happenings, weather, etc) on my smartphone would make me nervous.<br /><br />Other statements said I would be annoyed if I could not use my smartphone and/or its capabilities when I wanted to do so; Running out of battery in my smartphone would scare me; If I were to run out of credits or hit my monthly data limit, I would panic; and if I did not have a data signal or could not connect to Wi-Fi, then I would constantly check to see if I had a signal or could find a Wi-Fi network.<br /><br />The study participants also answered these statements: If I could not use my smartphone, I would be afraid of getting stranded somewhere; and if I could not check my smartphone for a while, I would feel a desire to check it.<br /><br />Another section of the questionnaire asked study participants how they would react if they did not have their smartphone with them.<br /><br />They responded to the following statements: I would feel anxious because I could not instantly communicate with my family and/or friends; I would feel nervous because I would not be able to receive text messages and calls; I would be uncomfortable because I could not stay up-to-date with social media and online networks; and I would feel weird because I would not know what to do.<br /><br />Other statements were: I would be anxious because I could not keep in touch with my family and/or friends; I would be nervous because I could not know if someone had tried to get a hold of me; and I would be nervous because I would be disconnected from my online identity. <br /></p>