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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Inquiry: A Journal of Medical Care Organization, Provision and Financing

Association Between Younger Age and Higher Scores in Nomophobia and Problematic Internet Use: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

  • Cesar Copaja-Corzo1,2
  • Rodrigo Flores-Palacios3,4
  • Cielo A. Estela-Fernandez5
  • Sandra Pajares-Centeno6
  • Brayan Miranda-Chavez7
  • Javier Flores-Cohaila5,8
8 affiliations
  1. 1Unidad de Investigación para La Generación y Síntesis de Evidencias en Salud, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Perú
  2. 2Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, EsSalud, Lima, Perú
  3. 3Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre Grohmann, Tacna, Perú
  4. 4Hospital Daniel Alcides Carrión, EsSalud, Tacna, Perú
  5. 5Universidad Científica Del Sur, Lima, Perú
  6. 6Escuela de Posgrado Newman, Tacna, Perú
  7. 7Grupo de Estudios e Investigación en Educación Médica y Bioética de la FACSA, EDUCAB, Universidad Privada de Tacna, Tacna, Perú
  8. 8Hospital Nacional Victor Larco Herrera, Lima, Perú
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Abstract

Introduction: The widespread use of smartphones and digital platforms has increased the risk of technological addictions among university students. This study aimed to determine the inverse association between age and the severity of nomophobia and problematic internet use among health sciences students.

Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study conducted among health sciences students (medicine, dentistry, and medical technology) at a university in Peru. We evaluated the inverse association between age factors and scores from the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) and the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIU-Q) using crude and adjusted linear regression models.

Results: We included 502 health sciences students, 59.2% of whom were women, with a median age of 21 (interquartile range: 19 to 23) years. The prevalence of moderate to severe nomophobia was 59.3%, and the median PIU-Q score was 41 (IQR: 34–50). Multivariable linear regression confirmed that younger age was significantly associated with higher severity: students aged 17–20 years had higher NMP-Q scores (βa: 11.0; 5.7 to 16.0) and higher PIU-Q scores (βa:3.4; 1.0 to 5.8) compared to those over 23 years.

Conclusion: There is a significant inverse association between age and the severity of nomophobia and problematic internet use. These findings suggest that age factors are critical in digital health, requiring targeted interventions for younger smartphone users to mitigate addictive behaviors.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{copajacorzo2026association,
  title = {{Association Between Younger Age and Higher Scores in Nomophobia and Problematic Internet Use: A Cross-Sectional Analysis}},
  author = {Cesar Copaja-Corzo and Rodrigo Flores-Palacios and Cielo A. Estela-Fernandez and Sandra Pajares-Centeno and Brayan Miranda-Chavez and Javier Flores-Cohaila},
  journal = {Inquiry: A Journal of Medical Care Organization, Provision and Financing},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1177/00469580261468779},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580261468779},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Association Between Younger Age and Higher Scores in Nomophobia and Problematic Internet Use: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
AU  - Cesar Copaja-Corzo
AU  - Rodrigo Flores-Palacios
AU  - Cielo A. Estela-Fernandez
AU  - Sandra Pajares-Centeno
AU  - Brayan Miranda-Chavez
AU  - Javier Flores-Cohaila
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/30
JO  - Inquiry: A Journal of Medical Care Organization, Provision and Financing
DO  - 10.1177/00469580261468779
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580261468779
AB  - Introduction: The widespread use of smartphones and digital platforms has increased the risk of technological addictions among university students. This study aimed to determine the inverse association between age and the severity of nomophobia and problematic internet use among health sciences students.  Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study conducted among health sciences students (medicine, dentistry, and medical technology) at a university in Peru. We evaluated the inverse association between age factors and scores from the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) and the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIU-Q) using crude and adjusted linear regression models.  Results: We included 502 health sciences students, 59.2% of whom were women, with a median age of 21 (interquartile range: 19 to 23) years. The prevalence of moderate to severe nomophobia was 59.3%, and the median PIU-Q score was 41 (IQR: 34–50). Multivariable linear regression confirmed that younger age was significantly associated with higher severity: students aged 17–20 years had higher NMP-Q scores (βa: 11.0; 5.7 to 16.0) and higher PIU-Q scores (βa:3.4; 1.0 to 5.8) compared to those over 23 years.  Conclusion: There is a significant inverse association between age and the severity of nomophobia and problematic internet use. These findings suggest that age factors are critical in digital health, requiring targeted interventions for younger smartphone users to mitigate addictive behaviors.
SN  - 0046-9580
SN  - 1945-7243
ER  -