Abstract
Nomophobia is characterized as an irrational fear or anxiety that arises when one is unable to use, contact, communicate, or access mobile phones. Previous research on nomophobia has been conducted mainly through an exploratory approach. Few studies have tested the theoretical model of nomophobia through a confirmatory analysis approach. Thus, this research contributes to filling the existing gap by testing a theoretical model of nomophobia. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Yogyakarta, Palembang, and Jambi, Indonesia. We used purposive sampling to recruit 689 students from various levels in those three cities to participate in this study. Specifically, the participants consisted of junior high school students (n = 245, 35.5%), high school students (n = 235, 34.2%), and college students (n = 209, 30.3%). Among them, 380 (55.2%) were women, and 309 (44.8%) were men. We used questionnaires to measure nomophobia, emotion regulation, self-control, spiritual meaningfulness, loneliness, and smartphone use. Data were analyzed using the structural equation model (SEM) analysis. Our findings revealed that emotional regulation, spiritual meaningfulness, and self-control had significant indirect effects on nomophobia. Furthermore, the intensity of smartphone use is a significant mediator that increases nomophobia in this model. Furthermore, the intensity of smartphone use is a significant mediator in this fit model. Future research should explore interventions that enhance emotional regulation, spiritual meaningfulness, and self-control to reduce nomophobia. Additionally, examining the specific mechanisms through which smartphone use mediates this relationship could provide deeper insights. Implementing educational programs on mindful smartphone usage and developing strategies to balance digital engagement may also prove beneficial.