Volume 1, Number 2 (September 2021)
e-ISSN: 2798-5067
p-ISSN: 2798-5059
© KHD Production | 159
Relationship of Self Control with Nomophobia in School-Age Children
in 1
st
Nguling Public Elementary School Pasuruan Regency
Putri Ayunda Retno Arini
1
, Lantin Sulistyorini
2*
, Peni Perdani Juliningrum
2
1
Nursing Science Study Program, Faculty of Nursing, University of Jember; Indonesia
2
Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Jember, Indonesia; lantin_s.psik@unej.ac.id (Corresponding Author)
Article Info: ABSTRACT
Submitted:
02-08-2021
Revised:
07-10-2021
Accepted:
07-10-2021
School-age children with a lack of self-control potentially experience a tendency to become
dependent on smartphones, which makes them feel anxious when they are away from their
smartphones (Nomophobia). This study aimed to analyze the correlation between self-control and
Nomophobia on school-age children at SDN Nguling 1 Pasuruan Regency. Furthermore, this study
used a descriptive analitic research design with a cross-sectional approach conducted on seventy-
seven samples under the inclusion criteria with a random sampling technique. The questionnaires
used in this research were the Self-Control questionnaire and Nomophobia questionnaire. The self-
control and Nomophobia correlation analysis used a Chi Square statistic test, with a significance
level of 0.05. The result showed that 33.8% (twenty-six respondents) had good self-control and
66.2% (fifty-one respondents) had poor self-control. Fifty-two respondents (67.5%) experienced
Nomophobia, while twenty-five respondents (32.5%) did not experience Nomophobia. There was a
significant correlation between self-control and Nomophobia (p = 0.023 and OR = 0.319). So, it is
necessary to improve the psychological status of school-age children by conducting individual
studies. Suggestions from this study are expected, views for parents regarding the supervision of
children's smartphone use by being given a time limit of 1 hour per day, so that children can do other
activities or play with their peers so as to prevent children from developing nomophobia.
Keywords: Self-control, Nomophobia, School-age Children.
INTRODUCTION
Developments are related to integrated personalities, life span starting from the age of six to twelve years is
called school-age. Elementary school-age children are individuals who are in a range of developmental changes, the
developmental phase of school-age children is seen from several main aspects of the child’s individual personality
(Murni et al., 2020). Children start to explore their capabilities during the school-age, starting from taking care of their
responsibility to logical and critical thinking (Santrock, 2011). The children’s memory will expand, children can distinguish
between which things are seen with their senses and reality, and which things are temporary, children are no longer
egocentric and are starting to be able to see other people’s points of view. Children will develop their skills and learn
about their broader environment, not only their family environment but also their surroundings, such as technology and
its media (Ramadhani, 2019). Southeast Asia has experienced a rapid increase in smartphone utilization, it was found
that at the end of 2012, half of the population of smartphone users was children aged from six to twelve years old
(Ramaita et al., 2019)
Most students spend an average of 5-6 hours playing cellphones, from these results it was revealed that there
are several factors that can indicate that children are affected by nomophobia (Sunarto, 2018). The ideal screen time for
children under the age of two years (>2 yo) is 1 hour/day, and children under the age of 18 months (<18 mo) are
suggested not to be exposed to digital media directly. The comfort and convenience that smartphone and digital media
offer could be a problem when used excessively, therefore gave some bad impacts on the individual and made them
dependent on the use of smartphones or also known as nomophobia which is the feeling of anxiety when they are away
from their smartphones (Idayati, 2011). Self-control is one way to get rid of smartphones dependency. Self-control is the
ability of each individual to improve their behavior so that their society could accept them. This matter is related to
Borba’s research (2008), which said that an individual’s ability to control their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors could