A Study of Association between Nono-phobia, Loneliness and Sleep Deprivation among Young Adults

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the association between nomophobia, loneliness, and sleep deprivation among young adults. With the increasing reliance on smartphones in the digital era, psychological concerns such as fear of disconnection (nomophobia), social isolation, and sleep disturbances have become prominent among youth. The study adopted a quantitative research approach with a correlational research design. A sample of 160 working young adults aged between 20 and 40 years was selected using purposive sampling from various occupational sectors in Jammu district. Standardized instruments were used, including the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Sleep Quality Scale (SQS) to assess the respective variables. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, regression analysis and mediation analysis were employed for data analysis. The findings revealed a significant relationship between nomophobia, loneliness and sleep deprivation. Nomophobia was found to positively correlate with loneliness and sleep deprivation, indicating that higher smartphone dependency is associated with increased feelings of social isolation and poorer sleep quality. Loneliness also showed a significant positive relationship with sleep deprivation and was found to partially mediate the relationship between nomophobia and sleep deprivation. The study highlights the psychological impact of excessive smartphone use and emphasizes the need for awareness and interventions targeting healthy technology usage, improved social connectedness, and better sleep hygiene among young adults. These findings contribute to the growing body of literature on digital behavior and mental health and have implications for developing preventive strategies and psychological well-being programs.