Impact of Mobile Phone Dependence on Social Anxiety among University Students

Abstract

Mobile phone dependence is a significant condition that people experience all over the world. Dependence on mobile phones, like any phenomenon related to other technologies, is also related to psychological issues such as anxiety, social isolation, hopelessness, and sleep problems. Thus, this study aimed to figure out the impact of mobile phone dependence on social anxiety among students University of Peradeniya. A snowball sample of 115, 79 female and 36 male participants were selected from the Faculty of Arts. Data was gathered administrating a questionnaire as a google form. Quantitative data was gathered by a self-constructed questionnaire that measures mobile phone dependence and social anxiety was measured by using Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-SR). The correlational analysis shows that there is a relationship between mobile phone dependence and social anxiety. It shows that dependence, loneliness, anxiety positively correlate with mobile phone dependence. The results show that there is a significant impact of mobile phone dependence on social anxiety among undergraduates. This study expected to have a positive relationship between mobile phone dependence and social anxiety among university students. Results revealed that the variable anxiety contributes the most to social anxiety among university students. In conclusion, university students depend on mobile phones for their academic activities and entertainment. Especially with the Covid-19 pandemic mobile phone dependence behavior of university students may have increased and it might be influencing their social anxiety.