1. Introduction and Context:
This research article, published in the British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, addresses emerging psychological phenomena stemming from the deep integration of technology into modern daily life: nomophobia and netlessphobia. Authored by Yalçın Karagöz, Mustafa Filiz, Yusuf Karaşin, and Şerife Kuzgun, the study was published online on November 17, 2025.
The proliferation of smartphones and the internet has inadvertently given rise to new anxieties. Nomophobia is characterized as the fear of being without a mobile phone. This fear is a growing global concern, often associated with anxiety, low self-esteem, and psychopathological symptoms such as interpersonal sensitivity and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Conversely, Netlessphobia is defined as the fear of losing internet connectivity or access. This condition is viewed as a digital disorder encompassing anxiety and worry, often characterized by the necessity to be constantly online. Both conditions reflect significant psychological dependencies arising from technology integration.
The study frames these digital fears against two key indicators of well-being: psychological resilience and happiness. Psychological resilience is defined as the capacity to effectively cope with and recover from difficulties, adapting successfully in the face of adversity, and is critical for maintaining stability and long-term mental health. Happiness, often equated with subjective well-being, is characterized by high levels of life satisfaction, frequent positive emotions, and enduring contentment. The interaction between resilience and happiness suggests they may jointly influence vulnerability to technology-related anxieties.
2. Research Objectives and Conceptual Framework
The primary objective of this study is to examine the effects of individuals’ perceptions of nomophobia and netlessphobia on their psychological resilience and happiness. Additionally, the research investigates the relationship between psychological resilience perceptions and happiness. By exploring these relationships, the study aims to provide insights into how psychological strengths might serve as a buffer against the negative effects of excessive technology dependence.
The study tested five specific hypotheses based on existing literature:
- Hypothesis 1 (H1): Nomophobia perception has a significant effect on psychological resilience. (Supported by literature indicating a negative relationship, linking nomophobia to anxiety, depression, and stress).
- Hypothesis 2 (H2): Nomophobia perception has a significant effect on happiness. (Developed despite mixed results in existing literature).
- Hypothesis 3 (H3): Netlessphobia perception has a significant effect on psychological resilience. (Proposed because the stress induced by netlessnessphobia can diminish resilience).
- Hypothesis 4 (H4): Netlessphobia perception has a significant effect on happiness. (Supported by literature suggesting the fear of being without internet access leads to negative emotional responses and reduced life satisfaction).
- Hypothesis 5 (H5): Perception of psychological resilience has a significant effect on happiness. (Supported by studies demonstrating a positive correlation between resilience and happiness).
3. Methodology
The study employed a quantitative research design utilizing survey data collected online between April 30 and May 20, 2024.
Participants and Sampling: The sample consisted of 537 participants aged 18 and above, working in either the public or private sector in Turkey. Convenience sampling was used. Demographically, 54.0% were female, 37.6% were aged 26–35, and 67.6% reported a middle income level.
Data Collection Instruments: Data was gathered using four main scales:
- Nomophobia Scale (NMP-Q): A 20-item, 7-point Likert scale, evaluating dimensions like inability to access information and losing online connection. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.858 in this study.
- Netlessphobia Scale: A 19-item, 5-point Likert scale adapted into Turkish, assessing loss of control and increased desire to stay online. The Cronbach’s alpha was very high at 0.946.
- Oxford Happiness Scale Short Form: A 7-item, 5-point Likert scale where a higher score indicates a higher level of happiness. The study found a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.828.
- Short Psychological Resilience Scale: A 6-item, 5-point scale, where higher scores indicate higher resilience. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.781.
Data Analysis: The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25 and AMOS 23 software. Path analysis via structural equation modeling was utilized to test the research model. T-tests and ANOVA tests were also conducted to examine differences across demographic variables, based on the finding that the data exhibited an approximately normal distribution.
4. Key Findings and Results
The analysis provided significant insights into the impact of digital fears on psychological well-being.
Path Analysis Results (Hypothesis Testing): The study found that digital anxiety significantly affects psychological resilience and happiness.
- H1 Accepted: Perceptions of Nomophobia (M = 4.06, SD = 1.25) positively and significantly influence individuals’ levels of Psychological Resilience (β = .093; p = .010). Note: The source abstract states nomophobia negatively affects psychological resilience. However, the detailed Path Analysis table (Table 2) shows a positive standardized regression weight (β = .093) leading to the acceptance of H1. The discussion section notes that the perception of nomophobia significantly affects psychological resilience, consistent with previous findings that nomophobia is negatively associated with psychological resilience. This suggests a complex or subtle relationship interpretation.
- H2 Rejected: Nomophobia perception had no significant effect on individuals’ levels of happiness (p = .175).
- H3 Accepted: Perceptions of Netlessphobia (M = 3.78, SD = 0.84) negatively and significantly influence Psychological Resilience (β = −.164; p < .001).
- H4 Accepted: Perceptions of Netlessphobia negatively and significantly influence Happiness (β = −.245; p < .001).
- H5 Accepted: Individuals’ perceptions of Psychological Resilience positively and significantly influence their perceptions of Happiness (β = .482; p < .001).
Digital Anxiety Effects Summary: Nomophobia significantly affects psychological resilience but not happiness, while netlessphobia significantly affects both psychological resilience and happiness.
Difference Analysis (Demographic Findings): The study found differences in certain variables based on demographic characteristics.
- Gender: Women exhibited higher levels of Netlessphobia (M = 3.88) and higher Psychological Resilience (M = 2.81) than men (M = 3.66 and M = 2.54, respectively). There were no significant differences in nomophobia or happiness based on gender.
- Income: Individuals with moderate income levels exhibited higher perceptions of happiness and psychological resilience compared to those with high income.
- Institution Type: Employees in private institutions exhibited lower levels of psychological resilience (M = 2.57) compared to those in public and other institutions (M = 2.85).
- Age, Education, Marital Status: No significant differences were observed across all variables based on these factors.
5. Discussion, Implications, and Future Research
Discussion of Core Findings:
The finding that nomophobia significantly affects psychological resilience is consistent with prior research linking nomophobia to reduced resilience and increased stress and anxiety. The rejection of H2 (Nomophobia and Happiness) aligns with some studies (Gökbulut, 2022; Ozdemir et al., 2018) but contradicts others, suggesting the relationship may vary depending on context, age, and anxiety levels.
The significant negative impact of netlessphobia on both psychological resilience and happiness is a key finding. This suggests that the intense anxiety and stress induced by the disruption or fear of digital disconnection adversely affects an individual’s ability to cope and reduces their overall life satisfaction. The positive link between psychological resilience and happiness (H5) is strongly supported, implying that resilient individuals are more likely to maintain positive attitudes and achieve higher life satisfaction.
Implications:
The results highlight the importance of addressing digital dependency in mental health interventions. Given the negative association found, interventions aimed at reducing digital fears and increasing awareness could enhance individuals’ coping abilities. Specifically, the impact of netlessphobia on both resilience and happiness reaffirms the need for strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of unavailability anxiety, such as promoting mindful technology use and offline coping mechanisms. The lower resilience observed in private sector employees also suggests that competitive and stressful private work environments may negatively affect psychological health, necessitating further investigation and targeted support.
Limitations and Future Research:
The study acknowledges limitations, including the reliance on convenience sampling and online data collection in Turkey, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings. Future research recommendations include:
- Examining the moderating role of demographic variables (age, gender, socioeconomic status) in the relationship between digital fears and psychological outcomes.
- Investigating the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce nomophobia and netlessphobia and their subsequent effects on resilience and happiness.
- Utilizing qualitative methodologies to gain a deeper, contextual comprehension of the lived experiences of individuals with digital fears.
6. Conclusion
In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the influence of modern digital fears on psychological health. It established that nomophobia negatively affects psychological resilience but does not significantly impact happiness. In contrast, netlessphobia—the fear of losing internet access—was found to have a significant detrimental effect on both psychological resilience and happiness. Furthermore, a positive correlation between psychological resilience and happiness was confirmed. These findings underscore that as technology becomes more integrated into daily life, interventions must address digital anxiety to promote mental well-being.
Analogy for Understanding Netlessphobia’s Impact: Consider psychological resilience and happiness as a battery level for dealing with life. When you are resilient (a high battery level), you handle daily challenges easily. Nomophobia, the fear of being without your phone, acts like a slow, persistent power drain—it makes you stressed and slightly less resilient, but it doesn’t necessarily crash your overall happiness level immediately. However, Netlessphobia, the fear of losing internet access entirely, acts like a sudden short circuit; it immediately depletes both your resilience (your ability to cope) and your happiness (your overall life satisfaction), leading to acute stress and profound negative effects.
APA Reference: Karagöz, Y., Filiz, M., Karaşin, Y., & Kuzgun, Ş. (2025). Nomophobia and netlessphobia: implicatıons for psychologıcal resilience and happiness. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2025.2566284