Personality traits, peer influence as a correlate of Nomophobic behaviour among undergraduate students in Obafemi Awolowo university, ILE-IFE, Nigeria

The study investigated the prevalence of Nomophobic behaviour among undergraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. It also ascertained the correlate of each of students’ psychosocial factors (personality traits and peer influence) and Nomophobic behaviour among undergraduates. It examined the correlates of students’ social factor (peer influence) and Nomophobic behaviour and ascertained the correlates of psychological factor (personality traits) and Nomophobic behaviour among students in the study area. These were with a view to providing information on psychosocial factors that have relationship with Nomophobic behaviour among the students.
The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population for the study consisted of Obafemi Awolowo University undergraduate students. A sample of 1080 undergraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University was selected using multi-stage sampling technique. Six faculties out of 13 were selected using simple random sampling technique and two departments were selected from each of the six faculties using simple random sampling technique to give a total of 12 departments in all. Convenient sampling technique was used to select 90 (100 level to 400/500 level) students from each of the two departments selected in each faculty to make a total of 1080 respondents in all. One instrument titled Psychosocial and Nomophobic Behaviour among Undergraduate Students which contained five sections; Section A comprised item on students’ Nomophobic behaviour, Section B, contained items on students’ personality traits, and Section C comprised items on peer influence, Data collected were analyzed using percentage, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression analyses.
The results showed that (83.8%) of the undergraduate students exhibited moderate level of Nomophobic behaviour. Furthermore, the results established that there was a significant relationship between each students’ personality traits and Nomophobic behaviour among the students (extraversion and Nomophobic behaviour r = 0.04, agreeableness and Nomophobic behaviour r = 0.12, conscientiousness and Nomophobic behaviour r = 0.13, neuroticism and Nomophobic behaviour r = 0.26 and openness to experience and Nomophobic behaviour r = -.01p-value< 0.05). The results also showed that there was significant relationship between peer influence and Nomophobic behaviour among the students with ([r =.18, p value< 0.05). The study concluded that peer influence had the strongest relationship with Nomophobic behaviour of university undergraduates in Obafemi Awolowo University, followed by personality traits, religiousity and depression respectively.