Link Between Smartphone-Related Anxiety (Nomophobia) and Stress, Body Image, and Food Addiction in University Students
An Investigation of the Relationships Between Nomophobia Levels and Stress, Body Image and Food Addiction Among University Students
This project will test whether higher smartphone-related anxiety (nomophobia) is linked to more perceived stress, stronger food-addiction symptoms, and distorted body image in 18–30-year-old undergraduate students.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 30 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Bahçeşehir University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul, beşiktaş) |
| Trial ID | NCT07518056 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Undergraduate students aged 18–30 at Bahçeşehir University will complete questionnaires including the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), and the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (FRS), along with a sociodemographic form and daily screen-time tracking. Objective body composition data (body weight, body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass) will be collected using the InBody 270 via bioelectrical impedance analysis after standardized preparation, and waist and hip circumferences will be measured manually to compute BMI and waist-to-hip ratio. The study will compare subjective perceptions of body image and eating behavior with objective anthropometric measures to explore relationships with nomophobia levels. Data analysis will focus on correlations between nomophobia and perceived stress, food addiction scores, and body image distortion, and on how objective measures relate to subjective body-image perceptions.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are active smartphone-using undergraduate students aged 18–30 at Bahçeşehir University who can give informed consent, are not pregnant, do not have pacemakers or metallic prostheses, and have no diagnosed metabolic or acute/chronic psychiatric conditions affecting eating behavior.
Not a fit: People with current diagnosed eating disorders, severe psychiatric diagnoses or ongoing psychiatric medication use, recent corticosteroid use, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or those unwilling to complete the questionnaires and body-composition protocol are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could highlight smartphone-related anxiety as a modifiable factor associated with stress, eating-related behaviors, and body-image distortion, informing prevention or support efforts for students.
How similar studies have performed: Previous observational research has reported correlations between smartphone dependence and higher stress or disordered eating, so this study builds on existing correlational evidence rather than testing a new treatment.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Being an active smartphone user * Reading and providing consent via the Informed Consent Form * Absence of conditions such as pacemaker implantation, metallic prostheses in the body, or pregnancy * Not having a diagnosed metabolic disorder (e.g., Cushing's syndrome, diabetes, thyroid disorders) or any acute/chronic psychiatric condition that may affect eating behavior Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals with a current diagnosis of an eating disorder (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, etc.) * Individuals with a psychiatric diagnosis of severe depression, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, or an anxiety disorder requiring treatment * Individuals who regularly use psychiatric medications (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, etc.) * Individuals who have used corticosteroids or similar hormone-regulating medications in the past 3 months * Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals * Participants who did not complete the questionnaires or the measurement procedures
Where this trial is running
Istanbul, beşiktaş
- Bahçeşehir University, Faculty of Health Sciences — Istanbul, beşiktaş, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Beyza Terzioğlu — Bahçeşehir University
- Study coordinator: Beyza Terzioğlu
- Email: beyzaterziogluu@gmail.com
- Phone: +90 212 381 91 52
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.