Examining the relationship between nomophobia and depression: a systematic review and meta analysis of 10 studies involving 12,043 participants

Background: This comprehensive review investigates the distinct relationship between nomophobia and depression, aiming to isolate their association. While prior research has explored the collective impact of nomophobia on various psychological problems, this study focuses on highlighting the specific effects of nomophobia on depression. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement. Ten studies comprising 12,043 participants were included. A random-effects meta-analysis and linear regression analysis were performed to assess prevalence rates and the association between moderate to severe nomophobia and depression. Results: The pooled prevalence of moderate to severe nomophobia was 63.2% (95% CI: 51.00%–73.86%), while 26.2% of participants (95% CI: 19.37%–34.36%) reported depression. Linear regression analysis revealed no direct linear relationship between moderate to severe nomophobia and depression. Conclusion: This study suggests that the link between depression and nomophobia is not direct. Nomophobia may be more closely associated with anxiety-related constructs rather than depressive symptomatology.