O papel da autoeficácia na mitigação do impacto da nomofobia no bem-estar

Abstract

Nomophobia, defined as the fear of being without a cell phone, is a growing problem in the digital age, with negative impacts on mental health. Self-efficacy, the belief in one's own ability to deal with challenges, can modulate this relationship. This dissertation aims to investigate the impact of self-efficacy on the relationship between nomophobia and subjective well-being, by conducting two independent studies. The first study consists of a systematic review of the literature, which explores the role of self-efficacy in mitigating the symptoms of nomophobia and its reflection on subjective well-being. Ten empirical studies published between 2019 and 2024 were examined, revealing that self-efficacy is closely associated with reduced levels of nomophobia and an increase in subjective well-being. Individuals who present high self-efficacy demonstrate a superior ability to regulate the use of mobile devices, which allows them to reduce anxiety and stress related to nomophobia. Furthermore, self-efficacy promotes the adoption of more effective coping strategies, such as engaging in enjoyable offline activities and seeking social support. The second study deepens the investigation on the topic, examining the moderating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between nomophobia and subjective well-being. The study included 142 participants, predominantly women (78.9%) and single (54.2%), with a mean age of 34.1 years. The majority reside in the Federal District (52.1%), are white (45.8%), and 76.06% do not have a higher education degree. The instrument used to assess nomophobia was the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), which classifies nomophobia levels into four categories and showed high internal consistency (α = 0.95). The intensity of technology use was measured with four items, also demonstrating good reliability (α = 0.73). Subjective well-being was assessed with the Subjective Well-Being Scale (EBES), showing high internal consistency (α ranging from 0.87 to 0.96). Self-efficacy was measured with the General Self-Efficacy Scale, obtaining satisfactory internal consistency (α = 0.87). This study collected data online through Google Forms and used SPSS for descriptive and inferentialstatistical analysis. The findings indicate that individuals with high self-efficacy are able to use smartphones in a balanced way, adopting strategies that favor subjective well-being. In contrast, nomophobia is associated with lower levels of well-being, highlighting the need for interventions to address this issue. The research not only clarifies the implications of nomophobia, but also suggests practical recommendations for interventions and prevention, highlighting self-efficacy as a crucial element in the search for a balance between smartphone use and emotional well-being, in addition to opening avenues for future research in the area.