Nomophobia and its association with musculoskeletal pain and disability in university students: A cross-sectional study

Background Nomophobia, defined as the fear of being without access to a mobile phone, is prevalent among young adults and may have physical and psychological consequences. However, its relationship with musculoskeletal pain and disability remains insufficiently explored. Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nomophobia among university students and investigate its association with musculoskeletal pain and pain-related disability. Methods This cross-sectional study included 714 university students. Nomophobia was assessed using the Nomophobia Questionnaire. Musculoskeletal pain in the neck, upper back, and low back regions was evaluated using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Disability was assessed using the Neck Disability Index and Oswestry Disability Index. Analyses included group comparisons, correlation analyses, and multivariate logistic regression. Results Nomophobia was highly prevalent, with 58.1% of participants showing moderate and 14.6% severe levels. Neck, upper back, and low back pain were reported by 62.6%, 59.4%, and 53.4% of participants, respectively. Higher nomophobia scores were associated with greater neck and upper back pain intensity and neck- and low back-related disability; however, no significant association was observed with low back pain intensity. After adjustment for sex, BMI, and daily smartphone use, higher nomophobia scores remained associated with higher odds of neck, upper back, and low back pain. Associations were modest. Conclusion Nomophobia was highly prevalent and remained associated with musculoskeletal pain and disability after adjustment, although the associations were modest. These findings highlight the importance of considering behavioral factors in the assessment of musculoskeletal complaints. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causal relationships.