66 percent are afraid to forget the phone

Nomophobia: 66 percent of people are afraid to forget or lose the phone

18/02/2012

The period of constant accessibility also seems to produce new fears. A study commissioned by the British security company „SecurEnvoy“ revealed that around 66 percent of people are afraid to forget or lose their mobile phone. Science also already has a new name for this phenomenon „NOMOPHOBIA“. Women are more affected than men, according to the survey. For this, men often have more than just a cell phone.

Write text messages, look through the application on Facebook and finally the constant telephone accessibility: For a majority of people in the Western world, the mobile phone is an integral part of everyday life. About two-thirds of adult British suffer from fear of forgetting their cell phone or letting it down somewhere, according to a recent poll. This phenomenon was first investigated in 2008. If the fear is already advanced and can be described as pathological, there is a so-called nomophobia. The term stands for "No-Mobile-Phobia" (non-mobile fear).

Often far more serious fears are behind it, says social worker Gritli Bertram from Hannover. Thus, people who suffer for example from a so-called heart phobia, always take their cell phone, in order to call an emergency doctor in case of emergency. „If the phone is forgotten, panic attacks with tachycardia and sweats can follow“. This fear experience in turn manifests the phobia. Then only behavior therapy and relaxation exercises help to get out of the cycle of fear.

Women are more likely to suffer from mobile phone loss anxiety
The study authors state that women are affected at 70 percent more often than men (61 percent). Already four years ago, a similar study was carried out on the same topic. Back then, the special fear was even less common than it is today: in 2008, a total of 53 percent of respondents said they are afraid of cell phone loss and unavailability.

Many consumers even own more than one mobile phone. 41 percent said that they have at least two or more cell phones so as not to lose their connection. To be on the safe side, especially men have more than just a cell phone, here was the rate at 47 percent. In women, the proportion of Zweithandybesitzerinnen was only 36 percent.

Young and older people particularly affected
It is hardly surprising that superficially young people suffer from the fear of mobile phone loss: 77 percent of 18 to 24 year olds suffer from nomophobia according to the study. Almost as scared are the 25- to 34-year-olds. In third position were mobile phone owners who are older than 55 years old. Especially in the case of the last age group there is a strong desire to be able to call a doctor anytime and anywhere if health no longer plays along.

Another focus of the study was the question of the everyday handling of the device. About 50 percent said they „Get upset or angry when the friend or partner reads the text messages on the phone“. Only 41 percent secure their cell phone with a pin.

But when is a fear actually in need of treatment? Is nomophobia just an expression of our fast-moving society? These and other questions have yet to be clarified by the scientific side. Tip: often leave the mobile phone at home and experience that it works without it. (Sb)

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Picture: Grey59