Nomophobia in teenagers: digital lifestyle, social networking and smartphone abuse

Smartphone use influences teenagers’ behaviors and lifestyles, not always in a positive way. Abuse and dependence on the use of this device is what has led to the study of nomophobia. The objective of this research is to measure the level of nomophobia in adolescents, and to study their digital consumption habits. The study seeks to analyze the relationships between risk of nomophobia, digital behavior, age and smartphone use. A structured questionnaire has been applied to a sample of 850 students aged 12 to 16. The data has been analyzed with SPSS and SPAD. Multivariate statistical characterization, one of the most recent data mining techniques, has been used to study differences in teenagers’ behaviors according to their risk of nomophobia, and to find related explanatory variables. Teenagers’ nomophobia risk ranges from mild to moderate, showing a relation with age, academic performance and intensity of use of mobile social networking apps. The risk of nomophobia responds to differences in students’ digital, social, relational and educational behaviors, and exhibits differences according to academic performance, age, gender, motivation and self-perception.

Comparing the Effects of Text Messaging and Mobile Social Networking on Physical Activity and Anthropometric Indices of Middle-Aged Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Physical inactivity is a global health problem which is more prevalent among women. Among different age groups, middle-aged women are more vulnerable to physical inactivity as one of consequences of menopause. This study aimed to compare the effect of text messaging and that of mobile social networking on the improvement of physical activity and anthropometric indices of middle-aged women in Iran. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial in which 110 overweight or obese women who were physically inactive were recruited and allocated into two groups of text messaging (n=55) or mobile social networking (n=55). Women in both groups received information regarding the necessity, benefits, and barriers of physical activity and how to overcome these barriers for 12 weeks. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and a demographic questionnaire were used to collect data. Anthropometric indices including weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist/hip ratio, and body fat percentage were measured at baseline, as well as 4, 8, and 12 weeks after intervention. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Chi-square, and repeated measure test. Results: In the mobile social networking group, most women had moderate physical activity after 12 weeks (p<0.05). The mean physical activity and energy expenditure were significantly higher in the mobile social group than those in the text messaging. In the 12th week of intervention, there was a significant reduction in the weight and BMI of the participants in the mobile social networking group compared to the text messaging group (p<0.05). The waist and hip circumferences of women in the mobile social networking group reduced significantly after 12 weeks of intervention in comparison to the text messaging group (p=0.001). The two groups did not show any significant difference regarding waist/hip ratio. While the body fat percentage was reduced in the mobile social networking group in the 4th, 8th, and 12th week of intervention, the differences between the two groups was not significant. Conclusion: Both text messaging and mobile social networking were effective in promoting physical activity and reducing anthropometric indices except for waist/hip ratio and body fat percentages, but the effect of mobile social networking was more pronounced. Thus, mobile social networking is recommended for promoting physical activity among middle-aged women.

THE FACTORS AFFECTING PERSONAL INFORMATION DISCLOSURE AND USAGE CONTINUANCE INTENTION ON MOBILE SOCIAL NETWORKING SERVICES

Human life has been greatly changed by the explosive growth of the internet and social media. This paper explores the factors affecting the individual information disclosure and usage continuance intention on mobile social networking services. Therefore, this study is aimed to test hypothesesrelated to the proposed calculus theory rather than generate new hypotheses. Therefore, the present research study is deductive in nature and thus is consistent with the positivism paradigm. The present study intends to adopt a quantitative research strategy using a structured survey questionnaire. Questionnaires are prepared on a five-pointLikert scale and distributed to 180 individuals in the Klang Valley in Malaysia. Indeed, the opinions of the respondents are different from each other a non-probability sampling tool has been used. The results of the study were analyzed by Pearson correlation tests and indicate that several parameters are highly significant, including privacy concerns, perceived risk, information sensitivity, reliable beliefs, perceived usefulness, and relationships for disclosure. The information mentioned that the respondents notice in the disclosure of information and their intention to use it. Three factors, such as privacy concern, perceived risk, and information sensitivity, are associated negatively with significance towards the information discloser among the users of the mobile apps in social networks in Malaysia. The other three factors, such as trusting beliefs, perceived usefulness, and relationship building, are positively associated with information disclosure.