Nomophobia can also co-occur with other mental health conditions, such as social anxiety disorder. And it may interfere with sleep, which can create its own devastating impacts on mental health.

Generally, younger populations, females, and individuals with anxiety are more likely to experience nomophobia. According to a study published in 2023, the increased risk for mobile phone dependence among females and participants with anxiety problems was 15% and 75%, respectively.

Researchers believe that nomophobia-related stress stems from smartphone users feeling socially threatened without online connectivity. Ironically, those who have nomophobia are also likely to report loneliness.

These findings are supported by a 2022 study that used questionnaires to assess nomophobia with variables like depression, anxiety, stress, social and emotional loneliness, and emotional skills. This study determined that other factors (in addition to being female and younger in age) played a role in developing the condition.

Nomophobia was associated with:

• Owning a smart device from an early age
• More time spent on devices (several hours of smartphone use, frequent checking of messages and notifications, long periods of time on social networks, etc.)
• Prolonged use of smart devices before bedtime
• More pronounced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress
• Lower emotional skills and competencies

The researchers concluded that “nomophobia and emotional skills and competence act as significant predictors in expression of distress factors.” The variance in the severity of symptoms of depression reached 30%, with the variance 24% for anxiety symptoms and 26% for stress symptoms.

IS NOMOPHOBIA AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS?

Authors of the above-mentioned systematic review study in Addiction & Health explained that, in some cases, nomophobia is considered a “situational phobia.” This designation would categorize it with other phobias, like agoraphobia.

In other cases, nomophobia is considered a behavioral addiction—that is, an addiction to using smartphones—which manifests through symptoms of psychosocial and physical dependency. Let’s look closer at the neuroscience of nomophobia and the brain changes associated with phobias and behavioral addictions.

Related: Behavioral Addiction in the Brain: Types and Treatment

SPECT brain imaging studies at Amen Clinics have shown that phobic brains work differently. Understanding how phones affect brain health is a critical part of coping with nomophobia.

When an individual is faced with their phobia, abnormal activity affects several brain regions. There is increased activation in the:

• Prefrontal cortex (PFC)—involved in focus, judgment, and decision-making
• Insula—involved in emotions, self-awareness, and perception
• Posterior cingulate cortex—involved in emotional salience and memory

Behavioral addictions have also been shown in SPECT scans to involve multiple areas of the brain:

• PFC—lower activity here is associated with impulsive behavior
• Anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG)—the brain’s “gear shifter”
• Nucleus accumbens—plays a role in experiencing rewards and happiness
• Amygdala—involved in emotions and fear responses
• Hippocampus—helps memories move into long-term storage

Ultimately, numerous brain changes can occur alongside nomophobia symptoms, and additional mental health conditions often co-exist with it. Because of these complexities, a SPECT scan can be helpful to pinpoint root causes and create a personalized treatment plan.

THE FUTURE OF NOMOPHOBIA

Researchers have been advocating for nomophobia to be entered into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) for well over a decade. Currently, it is categorized under the umbrella designation of “specific phobia” in the subcategory of “other.”

As technological devices become ever more commonplace—and required for more functions in our day-to-day life—it is likely that this widespread issue will continue to attract more attention in the medical community.