Invariant Effects of Nomophobia on Mindfulness, Obsessiveness, and Low-Stakes Test Performance: The Use of a Structural Equation Modeling Framework

Electronic devices (e.g., cellphones) are a means of technology advancement, but research suggests that frequent use of them in the classroom impairs attention and learning (Lee et al., 2017; Mendoza et al., 2018; Lee et al., 2020). The present study (N = 393) establishes a pre-existing regression model examining the significance of mindfulness (MND) to emotional regulation and cognitive performance among college students. Results suggest that MND’s effect on obsessiveness across all four conditions were seen: Group A, cellphone allowed, Group B, cellphone on silent mode, Group C, control group, and Group D, no cellphones. The findings also indicate that highly nomophobic participants in Group B showed better test performance. We expect that students’ excessive use of cellphones may have a negative impact on MND, especially when there are no cellphone restrictions.