No Mobile Phobia (Nomophobia) Test

The IDRlabs Nomophobia Test (IDR-NT©) was developed by, and is the exclusive property of, IDRlabs International. The IDR-NT was informed by the work of researchers Dr. Caglar Yildirim and Dr. Ana-Paula Correia. The present test is not associated with any professionals or professional bodies affiliated with this written work.

The test provides the following feedback:

Non-Existent Nomophobia: Your score indicates that you do not have a fear of being separated from your smartphone. If you are out of mobile phone contact for any length of time, you are unlikely to experience noticeable signs of anxiety or nervous arousal. You are also unlikely to undergo a significant emotional response such as panic or worry. Though you might prefer to have access to a smartphone, you find it difficult to relate to the extreme anxiety some people can experience if separated from one. In the absence of nomophobic symptoms, you do not need to limit your life experiences to only those you can take part in with a phone in hand.

Mild Nomophobia: Your score indicates that you have mild nomophobia – a fear of being unable to have or use your mobile phone. Like many people, you have mild nomophobic tendencies; however, they are not severe enough to be considered pathological. Indeed, your fear only manifests itself occasionally and rarely impacts your life in any way. While you do not typically feel dependent on your phone, there are nevertheless times when you notice you are checking your phone frequently or choosing virtual connection over in-person contact. Despite this, you could also go for long periods without using your phone if necessary, such as if you were on a remote vacation or if your phone was lost. You would be unlikely to experience any noticeable signs of anxiety or undergo a significant emotional response such as panic or worry. Though you may enjoy social media and may maintain an active online identity, you often go for long periods without using your phone to update social accounts or engage with others in this manner.

Moderate Nomophobia: Your score indicates that you have moderate nomophobia – the fear of being away from or unable to use your mobile phone. You may feel worried about not having your phone for the purposes of communication, connection, and information, but you do not experience severe anxiety or panic attacks if this does happen. When away from your phone or unable to use it, you could experience moderate nervous system arousal in the form of shallow breathing, an elevated pulse, sweaty palms, and shakiness. However, you are generally able to manage these symptoms and remain reasonably calm. Your phone may be a major source of social interaction and entertainment for you, but it’s not an absolute must for you to feel at ease. Though you likely prefer to have your phone within easy reach most of the time, and you catch yourself frequently checking it for notifications, you are still able to participate in events that require you to leave your phone behind.

Severe Nomophobia: Your score indicates that you have severe nomophobia – a high degree of fear related to being away from or unable to use your phone. You are afraid of not being able to communicate, stay connected, and access information quickly and conveniently. You likely have trouble putting your phone down for any length of time and feel incredibly anxious if you know you’ll be without service for even a few minutes. Simply thinking about being away from your phone can cause significant discomfort and stress, and you may feel distressed and irritated if you’re prevented from checking your phone. Indeed, you may be pushed to the point of panic if you are denied such opportunities for long periods.

Physical symptoms during any of the above situations may include shortness of breath, shaking, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness. Additional behaviors that often accompany nomophobia include taking your phone everywhere you go, checking your phone several times an hour, spending many hours a day on your phone, feeling helpless without your phone, and making sure you can see your phone at all times.

Professionals in the field of psychology, who are well-versed in the use and scoring of various psychometric tests and measures of personality, have developed the IDRlabs Nomophobia Test. The present test was informed by a written work published as Yildirim, C., & Correia, A. P. (2015). Exploring the dimensions of nomophobia: Development and validation of a self-reported questionnaire. Computers in Human Behavior, 49, 130-137.

The present test is intended for educational purposes only. IDRlabs and the present IDRlabs Nomophobia Test are independent of the above researchers, organizations, or their affiliated institutions.

As the developers and publishers of this free Nomophobia Test, we have striven to make this test as reliable and valid as possible by subjecting it to statistical controls and validation. However, free online quizzes such as the present one do not provide professional assessments or recommendations of any kind; the test is provided entirely “as-is.” For more information about any of our online tests and quizzes, please consult our Terms of Service.