Prevalence of Nomophobia and Its Association with Text Neck Syndrome and Insomnia in Young Adults during COVID-19

The spread of COVID-19 has made work or study from home quotidian nowadays making it the new normal. According to the BARC India-Nielsen report, the amount of time spent on mobile phone usage had risen by 16% until week 6 of the lockdown in January 2020 when compared to pre-COVID period. Young adults in India are unknowingly falling prey to insomnia and musculoskeletal disorders. Thus, this study was taken up to evaluate the prevalence of no-mo-phobia and its association with text neck syndrome (TNS) and insomnia in young adults during COVID-19. A web-questionnaire–based observational survey design was adopted for this study. Young adults between the age of 18 and 24 years using a smartphone for a minimum duration of 1 year, with a minimum smartphone usage duration of 2 hours in a day were included in the study. Outcome measurement assessment included assessment of Text neck Syndrome using self-reported symptoms, scores of nomophobia questionnaire and Athens insomnia scale (AIS-5). The chi-square statistics shows that nomophobia has a significant impact on insomnia and TNS. Odds are 3.1 times more that someone with nomophobia will develop insomnia [95% CI 0.854–11.375] and an individual with nomophobia is relatively at 2.1 times more risk of developing insomnia [95% CI 0.781–5.886]. Odds are 13.4 times more that someone with nomophobia will develop TNS [95% CI 2.945–60.946]. An individual with nomophobia is relatively at 4.8 times more risk of developing TNS [95% CI 1.337–17.478]. Odds are 5.8 times more that someone with TNS will develop insomnia [95% CI 3.393–9.847]. An individual with TNS is relatively at 3 times more risk of developing insomnia (AIS) [95% CI 2.041–4.466]. The results of the study show that the prevalence of nomophobia has increased in young adults during COVID-19 pandemic and so is the risk of clinical disorders such as TNS and insomnia and their delirious effects.