Interpersonal cognitive distortions as mediators of the relationship between psychological distress and nomophobia in adolescents: a cross-sectional mediation analysis

The increasing reliance on smartphones for emotional relief and social connectivity has contributed to the rise of nomophobia. The present study examined interpersonal cognitive distortions (ICDs) as mediators of the relationship between psychological distress and nomophobia in adolescents using a cross-sectional mediation design. A sample of 500 adolescents completed standardized measures assessing psychological distress (DASS-21), nomophobia (NMP-Q), and interpersonal cognitive distortions. To examine the hypothesized mechanisms through which psychological distress influences nomophobia, a parallel mediation analysis was conducted using PROCESS Macro (Model 4). The significance level was set at <0.05 throughout the analysis. Findings from parallel mediation analysis revealed that psychological distress significantly predicts nomophobia, both directly and indirectly through two dimensions of ICDs: interpersonal rejection and unrealistic relationship expectations. However, interpersonal misperception did not mediate this relationship. Findings suggest that emotionally distressed individuals may turn to smartphones as a maladaptive coping strategy to avoid social discomfort and seek digital reassurance. This pattern fosters a self-reinforcing cycle of avoidance, cognitive distortion, and digital dependency. The study contributes to a nuanced understanding of nomophobia’s development and highlights the importance of addressing both emotional and cognitive vulnerabilities in interventions aimed at reducing problematic smartphone use.