Relationships among nomophobia behaviours, fear of missing out, and work immersion among Chinese nurses: A network analysis

Background The widespread adoption of smartphones, while bringing considerable convenience, has also given rise to issues such as smartphone addiction, nomophobia, and fear of missing out (FoMO). In the healthcare field, particularly within the nursing profession, excessive smartphone use has been linked to frequent work interruptions, delays in critical tasks, lapses in concentration, and even clinical errors, all of which seriously undermine the quality of nursing care—a domain where work immersion serves as a core indicator. However, there remains a notable research gap in integrating nomophobia, fear of missing out and work immersion within the nursing population, especially through symptom-level network analysis. Objectives This study aimed to (1) identify central symptoms within the nomophobia-fear of missing out-work immersion symptom network, and (2) detect the bridging pathways that link these symptom clusters. Methods A total of 479 nurses were recruited via snowball sampling. Data were collected using the Nomophobia Questionnaire, the Fear of Missing Out Scale, and the Work-Related Flow Inventory. Symptom networks were estimated using the EBICglasso model. Centrality and bridge centrality indices were computed to identify the most influential symptoms within the network and the most influential links between symptom clusters, respectively. Results N2 (Giving up convenience) is the most central symptom; N1 (Not being able to access information) and F2 (Fear of Missing Information) are key bridging symptoms, whereas work immersion serves as a significant protective factor. Conclusion The insights from this study clarify the interconnected psychological mechanisms linking nomophobia and fear of missing out to reduced work immersion among nurses. This understanding not only highlights critical intervention points but also supports the formulation of evidence-based institutional guidelines. Consequently, we recommend that healthcare organisations adopt tailored policies, dedicated training programs, and enhanced environmental support measures aimed at safeguarding nurse welfare and optimising professional efficacy. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.