Digital traps: How technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in Taiwanese college students
This study investigates the relationship between maladaptive digital technology use, which arises from nomophobia, and insomnia among young adults. It specifically focuses on problematic gaming (PG), problematic social media use (PSMU), and problematic YouTube use (PYTU) as significant forms of digi...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Acta Psychologica |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824005523 |
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| author | Yi-Ching Lin Po-Ching Huang |
| author_facet | Yi-Ching Lin Po-Ching Huang |
| author_sort | Yi-Ching Lin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the relationship between maladaptive digital technology use, which arises from nomophobia, and insomnia among young adults. It specifically focuses on problematic gaming (PG), problematic social media use (PSMU), and problematic YouTube use (PYTU) as significant forms of digital behavior contributing to this contemporary health concern. Adolescents and young adults, being the first generation raised in a highly digitized environment, encounter unique challenges, including the emergence of behavioral addictions. Our findings indicate a strong association between nomophobia and problematic digital behaviors, with PSMU identified as the most prevalent form of maladaptive use. Additionally, PG and PSMU are recognized as substantial contributors to the development of nomophobia. The interaction of cognitive overstimulation, emotional dysregulation, blue light exposure, time displacement, and reward-driven dependency on these digital platforms promotes compulsive behaviors, which subsequently lead to the onset of insomnia. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study illustrates that nomophobia precipitates problematic digital behavior, which in turn results in sleep disturbances, thereby elucidating a clear pathway from digital dependency to insomnia. The limitations of this study include its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, which may introduce potential biases. Despite these limitations, our findings underscore the critical role of nomophobia in triggering insomnia through various maladaptive digital behaviors. This highlights the urgent need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies aimed at fostering healthier digital habits and alleviating the adverse health effects of excessive technology use, ultimately enhancing well-being in an increasingly interconnected society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f5ed2565af374e3ba6ff3a83ed9b8003 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0001-6918 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Psychologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-f5ed2565af374e3ba6ff3a83ed9b80032025-01-12T05:24:00ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182025-02-01252104674Digital traps: How technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in Taiwanese college studentsYi-Ching Lin0Po-Ching Huang1Department of Early Childhood and Family Education, National Taipei University of Education, 134 Sec. 2, Heping E. Rd., Taipei 106320, TaiwanSchool of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hua 1st Rd., Taoyuan 333323, Taiwan; Corresponding author at: 259, Wen-Hua 1st Rd., Taoyuan, 333323, Taiwan.This study investigates the relationship between maladaptive digital technology use, which arises from nomophobia, and insomnia among young adults. It specifically focuses on problematic gaming (PG), problematic social media use (PSMU), and problematic YouTube use (PYTU) as significant forms of digital behavior contributing to this contemporary health concern. Adolescents and young adults, being the first generation raised in a highly digitized environment, encounter unique challenges, including the emergence of behavioral addictions. Our findings indicate a strong association between nomophobia and problematic digital behaviors, with PSMU identified as the most prevalent form of maladaptive use. Additionally, PG and PSMU are recognized as substantial contributors to the development of nomophobia. The interaction of cognitive overstimulation, emotional dysregulation, blue light exposure, time displacement, and reward-driven dependency on these digital platforms promotes compulsive behaviors, which subsequently lead to the onset of insomnia. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study illustrates that nomophobia precipitates problematic digital behavior, which in turn results in sleep disturbances, thereby elucidating a clear pathway from digital dependency to insomnia. The limitations of this study include its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, which may introduce potential biases. Despite these limitations, our findings underscore the critical role of nomophobia in triggering insomnia through various maladaptive digital behaviors. This highlights the urgent need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies aimed at fostering healthier digital habits and alleviating the adverse health effects of excessive technology use, ultimately enhancing well-being in an increasingly interconnected society.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824005523Internet gamingSocial media useYouTubeDigital useNomophobiaInsomnia |
| spellingShingle | Yi-Ching Lin Po-Ching Huang Digital traps: How technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in Taiwanese college students Acta Psychologica Internet gaming Social media use YouTube Digital use Nomophobia Insomnia |
| title | Digital traps: How technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in Taiwanese college students |
| title_full | Digital traps: How technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in Taiwanese college students |
| title_fullStr | Digital traps: How technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in Taiwanese college students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital traps: How technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in Taiwanese college students |
| title_short | Digital traps: How technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in Taiwanese college students |
| title_sort | digital traps how technology fuels nomophobia and insomnia in taiwanese college students |
| topic | Internet gaming Social media use YouTube Digital use Nomophobia Insomnia |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824005523 |
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