Touch-operated world of teenagers in the distance education process: A cross-sectional study on nomophobia, netlessphobia and fear of missing out in nursing students.

AIM: To determine the levels of nomophobia, netlessphobia and fear of missing out of nursing students in this digital era and to perform comparison according to their personal and smartphone usage characteristics.

BACKGROUND

The time we live in has provoked some digital diseases along with many developments that have made our lives easier. Nomophobia, netlessphobia and fear of missing out, which develop due to excessive or inappropriate use of smartphones, the Internet and social media, are among those digital diseases.

DESIGN

This is a descriptive, comparative, correlational and cross-sectional study.

METHODS

The data were obtained from 802 volunteer students at the nursing faculties of three public universities in Istanbul between 15 April and 15 May 2022. The personal information form, Nomophobia Questionnaire, Firat Netlessphobia Scale and Fear of Missing Out Scale were used as data collection instruments. The data were analyzed using Cronbach's alpha and descriptive, correlative and comparative analyses.

RESULTS

The scale scores of nursing students were below the average in general; however, it was determined that the nomophobia scores were higher than the netlessphobia and fear of missing out scores. While gender and grade variables made a significant difference with nomophobia (p < 0.05), no significant difference was found with netlessphobia and fear of missing out (p > 0.05). Those who connect to the Internet from home; use the Internet for distance education and social media; use the Internet on their smartphones for a longer period in a day; check their smartphone more often; carry a phone charger with them; spend time on their smartphones before sleeping and after waking up; and consider themselves addicted obtained higher scores (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Digital issues of our time are both associated with the interaction among each other and smartphone usage characteristics. It is considered important to evaluate themselves regarding inappropriate or excessive use and risky behavior, as well as adapting approaches to protect young people.