Nomophobia

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Nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.^[1][2][3] The term was coined during a study by the UK Post Office who commissioned YouGov, a UK-based research organisation to look at anxieties suffered by mobile phone users.^[4] The study found that nearly 53 percent of mobile phone users in Britain tend to be anxious when they "lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit, or have no network coverage".^{[5] [6]} The study found that about 58 percent of men and 48 percent of women suffer from the phobia, and an additional 9 percent feel stressed when their mobile phones are off. The study sampled 2,163 people. ^[7] Fifty-five percent of those surveyed cited keeping in touch with friends or family as the main reason that they got anxious when they could not use their mobile phones.^[8] The study compared stress levels induced by the average case of nomophobia to be on-par with those of "wedding day jitters" and trips to the dentists.^[9]. Ten percent of those questioned said they needed to be contactable at all times because of work.

More than one in two nomophobes never switch off their cell phones.^[10] The study and subsequent coverage of the phobia have resulted in columns by those who minimize their mobile phone use or choose not to own one at all.^[11]

The website nomophobia.comhas been set up to provide advice and support to people suffering from nomophobia.

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