The Relationship Between Nomophobia, Screen Addiction, Musculoskeletal Problems and Cardiovascular Risk Levels in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

AimNomophobia, a new concept born out of digital addictions, refers to the anxiety and fear that individuals experience when they are away from their cell phones. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of nomophobia and screen addiction on musculoskeletal problems and cardiovascular risk in university students and to reveal the relationship between these parameters.Subjects and methodsThe study adopted a cross-sectional design and included 293 participants (mean age: 21.29 +/- 2.20 years, 76.1% female). The presence of nomophobia was assessed using the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q); screen addiction was assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form (SAS-SF) and the Multiple Screen Addiction Scale (MSAS); musculoskeletal risk level was assessed using the Cornell Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire (CMDQ); cardiovascular risk level was assessed using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS).ResultsParticipants had been using smartphones for 8.19 +/- 2.74 years, with a daily usage time of 6.64 +/- 3.38 h. The mean scores for NMP-Q, SAS, MSAS, and FRS were 74.51 +/- 31.74, 29.40 +/- 12.18, 39.37 +/- 13.14, and -1.16 +/- 5.00 respectively. The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal problems by body region was reported in the neck (71.7%), back (72.4%), and low back (68.6%). Significant differences were observed in the neck (p = 0.049) and back (p = 0.004), with severity increasing as nomophobia levels progressed. A significant positive correlation was found between NMP-Q scores and both SAS-SF (r = 0.560, p < 0.001) and MSAS (r = 0.468, p < 0.001). Regarding musculoskeletal pain, NMP-Q scores showed a significant positive correlation only with back pain (r = 0.166, p < 0.001).ConclusionThis study highlights the significant asSociation between nomophobia and musculoskeletal problems, particularly neck and back pain, among university students.