Introduction: The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia) and its relationship with academic self-handicapping in medical students.
Materials & Methods: This study is a descriptive and correlational study. The study population included smartphone users studying at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch in the academic year 2023-2024, of which 250 people were selected using stratified random sampling based on the Krejci and Morgan table. Data were collected using the Yildirim and Correa (2015) Nomophobia Questionnaire and the Schwinger and Steinsmer-Plaster (2011) Academic Self-Handicapping Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using correlation and structural equation testing and using SPSS and PLS software.
Results: The results of the study showed that most students (59.2%) had an average level of nomophobia. The results of the correlation test showed a significant relationship between mobile phone phobia and all its components with self-handicapping (p<0.05). The results of the structural equation modeling test confirmed the direct effect of mobile phone phobia on academic self-handicapping (p<0.001). The direction of the positive relationship and the intensity of the effect were equal to 0.354, which indicated a moderate intensity of the relationship.
Conclusion: The results of the study emphasize the need to support students in the conscious, safe, and effective use of technology, prevent excessive and harmful use, conduct awareness activities, and develop/implement educational programs on the conscious and beneficial use of technology, and identify students at risk of developing technology addiction and take precautions if necessary