A recent study at Sri Guru Ram Das (SGRD) College of Nursing, Vallah, has uncovered a high prevalence of nomophobia — the fear of being without a mobile phone — among students. Conducted by researcher Gurnyamat Kaur under the guidance of Dr Amandeep Kaur Bajwa and Gurjeet Kaur, the survey involved 348 female students.
The findings showed that over 90 per cent of participants suffered from moderate to severe levels of nomophobia. About 51.1 per cent displayed moderate symptoms, while 39.4 per cent experienced severe cases, leaving just 9.5 per cent with mild signs. Most students reported using phones mainly for social media (57.5 per cent) and educational purposes (38.8 per cent).
The health effects were concerning. Nearly half of the respondents reported reduced physical activity and frequent headaches, while 31.9 per cent struggled with insomnia. Psychologically, 52 per cent admitted to loneliness, and many experienced anxiety, irritation, or depression. Socially, phone overuse led to reduced interaction and poor communication.
Researchers stressed that nomophobia is an emerging public health issue. They recommended awareness drives, counselling, and structured digital detox programmes. The team also distributed an informational booklet to help students adopt healthier digital habits and restore balance in daily life.
