Nomophobia

Occupation/Work Environment
As technology is always on a growing fast track, it is hard for employers and employees to stray away from the dependency of cell phones. Industry week reported from their studies that since employers are requiring employees to have a separate mobile device for work, it is hard to keep personal and professional life from overlapping with each other . Since conference, for example, are on the rise for companies as a form of communication, it allows flexibility in a work schedule and is important in the development in enterprise (The dilemma of the ultra-connected 2008).
As many ambitious people in the corporate world are constantly on the go with their busy schedules, it is more convenient to bring along a small handheld device rather than a desktop. Shel Holtz (2012) found that it is hard to prevent the use of phones during work since the growth of technology is rapidly expanding and offices that are now using smart phones have become more efficient. Many Gen-Y workers have even favored their employers more if the technology used for work were current and up to date. From the same study, a small percentage of the Gen-Y also said that they wouldn’t leave their job if it had the latest mobile devices.

Gender Observing the comparisons of genders in the United States, one would think that women would be more dominant in using their cell phone. There are most certainly differences in how females and males keep in contact with people whether it is strangers, acquaintances, friends, or families. Studies show that depending on the gender, there are certain situations people would be more willing to use their mobile phones. According to Baron and Campbell (2012), males are more open to the idea of using their smart phone for texting and talking in various environments such as public places with friends, alone surrounded by strangers, or in the comfort of their own homes with family at dinner. They are also more likely to use texting over talking on their cellular device as a means of communication.
Even though women find it more important to pick up the phone to call and talk to people than to text, texting is just as significant for females when speaking through the phone takes longer than it really needs to be (Baron & Campbell 2012). This same study discovered that women dominated in using their cell phone to avoid strangers or an acquaintance as men used it more to evade people that they knew. Females were also found to be complaining more about being dependent and having others reach them on their mobile phone.
In another study, Takao, Takahashi, and Kitamura (2009) reported in his findings that females were more prone to develop symptoms of nomophobia. In contrast to Baron and Campbell, Takao et al found that males were more likely to make calls. His pool of participants were mostly males at different university locations all of which use a cellular device on a regular basis. Takao and Baron believe that females might be influenced by ethnical or cultural backgrounds more so than how gender influences how people use their smart phone.