ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF PHANTOM VIBRATION SYNDROME ON KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS, MENTAL WELL-BEING, PREVALENCE, AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES: A SCALE-BASED COMPARATIVE STUDY ACROSS DEMOGRAPHICS

Background: Phantom Vibration Syndrome is a perceptual phenomenon in which individuals falsely perceive their mobile phone vibrating or ringing, despite no actual incoming calls or messages. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of Phantom Vibration Syndrome, its psychological implications, and to identify effective strategies for prevention and management. By addressing this gap, the research seeks to contribute to the development of guidelines and interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of excessive smartphone use. Material and Method: A Non experimental study with Cross-sectional comparative study design is used among 300 Smartphone users across different age groups and professions. The convenient sampling technique was used. Data was collected on Data were collected using three validated instruments: the PVS Symptom Questionnaire, the Knowledge and Preventive Measures Scale, and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. The collected data were coded, tabulated, and analysed using descriptive statistics (mean, SD, frequency) and inferential statistics (Chi-square, ANOVA, Pearson correlation).