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Think you’re addicted to your phone?

Can you remember the last time you were without your cellphone for more than an hour?

If you’re someone who depends on your smartphone for weather updates, news articles and the never-ending feeds of social media, chances are you’ve probably experienced nomophobia — the term used to describe the separation anxiety you feel when you’re away from your mobile phone.

Nomophobia (“nomo” meaning no mobile) isn’t uncommon among Americans. In fact, 84 percent of Americans say they can’t go a single day without their phone, and 50 percent say they sleep with their phone next to them, according to a study from Time magazine.

Not sure if you’re addicted? Psychologists from Iowa State University say they’ve developed a questionnaire to test just how addicted you really are.

The list of 20 questions, originally posted by New York Magazine, is listed below. The more frequently you answer “yes” to the questions, the greater your level of nomophobia.

  1. I would feel uncomfortable without constant access to information through my smartphone.
  2. I would be annoyed if I could not look up information on my smartphone when I wanted to do so.
  3. Being unable to get the news (e.g., happenings, weather, etc.) on my smartphone would make me nervous.
  4. I would be annoyed if I could not use my smartphone and/or its capabilities when I wanted to do so.
  5. Running out of battery in my smartphone would scare me.
  6. If I were to run out of credits or hit my monthly data limit, I would panic.
  7. If I did not have a data signal or could not connect to Wi-Fi, then I would constantly check to see if I had a signal or could find a Wi-Fi network.
  8. If I could not use my smartphone, I would be afraid of getting stranded somewhere.
  9. If I could not check my smartphone for a while, I would feel a desire to check it.

If I did not have my smartphone with me…

10. I would feel anxious because I could not instantly communicate with my family and/or friends.

11. I would be worried because my family and/or friends could not reach me.

12. I would feel nervous because I would not be able to receive text messages and calls.

13. I would be anxious because I could not keep in touch with my family and/or friends.

14. I would be nervous because I could not know if someone had tried to get ahold of me.

15. I would feel anxious because my constant connection to my family and friends would be broken.

16. I would be nervous because I would be disconnected from my online identity.

17. I would be uncomfortable because I could not stay up-to-date with social media and online networks.

18. I would feel awkward because I could not check notifications for updates from my connections and online networks.

19. I would feel anxious because I could not check my email messages.20. I would feel weird because I would not know what to do.

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