Title:Anxiety, Depression, Body Mass Index, Physical Activity in Nomophobic
Italian Nurses: A Chronic Latent Inflammation?
Volume: 23
Issue: 11
Author(s): Elsa Vitale*, Rocco Mea, Angelo Benedetto, Donatella Capizzello, Simone Zacchino, Melania Zaminga, Matteo Russo, Filippo Ingrosso, Chiara Mazzarella, Giovanni Scupola Maria, Teresa Buccolieri and Roberto Lupo
Affiliation:
- Centre of Mental Health, Local Health Company Bari, Modugno, Italy
Keywords:
Anxiety, body mass index, depression, inflammation, nomophobia, nurse, physical activity.
Abstract:
Aim: To investigate which risk factors are strictly connected to nomophobia in Italian
nurses, according to socio-demographic characteristics, Body Mass Index scores, physical activity
habits, anxiety, and depression.
Methods: An “ad hoc” online questionnaire has been created and then administered to Italian nurses.
Data include sex, age, years of work experience, shift work per day, nursing educational level, Body
Mass Index, physical activity, anxiety, depression, and nomophobia conditions. Univariate logistic
regression has been performed to explore what potential factors may contribute to the nomophobia
condition.
Results: A total of 430 nurses agree to participate. No respondents record severe nomophobia levels,
as 308 (71.6%) register mild and 58 (13.5%) register moderate levels and 64 (14.9%) report no abnormal
condition. Females seem to be more exposed than males to nomophobia (p < 0.001); nurses
aged from 31 to 40 years and also with less than 10 years of work experience are more affected
comparnig to the other sub groups (p < 0.001). Nurses who practice low physical activity report significant
high levels in nomophobia (p < 0.001) and nurses reporting high anxiety levels also suffer
from nomophobia (p < 0.001). The trend is inverse by considering depression condition since most
of the nurses suffering from mild or moderate nomophobia levels report the absence of depression
condition (p < 0.001). No statistical differences have been reported between nomophobia levels and
shift work (p = 0.269), nursing educational level (p = 0.242), and BMI levels (p = 0.183). Anxiety
and physical activity report strong relationships with nomophobia condition (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Nomophobia may affect all individuals, especially young individuals. Although further
studies on nurses will be implemented, including the workplace and training environments of nurses
by allowing a clearer picture of the levels of “nomophobia” in general, as nomophobic behavior may
have negative repercussions both in social and professional spheres.
