Investigation of nomophobia and related psychological variables with cross-sectional and experience sampling methods: the effect of emotion dysregulation, affect, boredom, psychopathology, and social context

The present dissertation mainly aimed to investigate trait nomophobia, state nomophobia, and their associated psychological constructs. To satisfy this aim, two studies were conducted. Study 1 aimed to investigate the correlational association of trait nomophobia with trait emotion dysregulation, trait PA, trait NA, BP, and psychopathological symptom severity. Study 1 also aimed to investigate the predictive power of these variables on trait nomophobia. In Study 1, the cross-sectional design was preferred. Data was collected from a large university student sample with standard measurement tools (N= 505). Study 1 revealed that the variables were significantly correlated with trait nomophobia (except trait PA). The five-predictor model significantly predicted trait nomophobia. In Study 2, the initial aim was to investigate whether state-based psychological constructs (emotion dysregulation, PA, NA, boredom, and satisfaction with the social context) and trait-based psychological constructs (nomophobia, emotion dysregulation, PA, NA, BP) predict state nomophobia. The second aim was to investigate the variation of daily nomophobia scores during a week. In Study 2, two groups were created (non-nomophobia and nomophobia) to reach the aims. The ESM approach was preferred. Data was collected with the standard measurement tools used in Study 1 and momentary assessments via an MP application (PIEL Survey) (N= 42). Study 2 showed that state-based psychological constructs significantly predicted state nomophobia, but trait-based psychological constructs failed to impact state nomophobia (except trait nomophobia). Daily nomophobia scores decreased in a quadratic trend throughout the week. The decrease in the nomophobia scores of nomophobic individuals was less than non-nomophobic individuals. Nomophobic individuals had higher daily nomophobia scores than non-nomophobic individuals. The general findings suggest that despite being related, trait and state indicators of nomophobia are not interchangeable. It is possible to recommend that rather than trait assessment, state assessment should be used to make inferences about temporal relationships between momentary psychological constructs. Keywords: Experience sampling method, Growth model, Hierarchical linear modelling, Nomophobia, Random intercept and slope model