Mobile Phone Use and Interpersonal Communication Among IMT Enugu Students: Implications for Face-to-Face Interaction

The ubiquity of mobile smartphones among Nigerian university students has sparked growing scholarly concern about the displacement of traditional interpersonal communication practices and the erosion of face-to-face social competencies. This study examined patterns of mobile phone use and their implications for interpersonal communication among students of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. The study was anchored on the Social Displacement Theory, which argues that time spent on mediated communication progressively reduces the quantity and quality of direct interpersonal interactions. A survey design was employed, targeting a population of 6,200 students across all levels and departments of IMT Enugu. A sample of 362 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling, and a self-administered questionnaire was the primary instrument of data collection. Findings indicated that respondents spent an average of 5.4 hours daily on mobile phone communication, predominantly through WhatsApp and Instagram. A significant majority reported reduced engagement in face-to-face conversations with peers and family members, attributing this to the convenience of mobile communication. Respondents also noted increased anxiety and discomfort in unmediated social settings, suggesting the emergence of communication avoidance behaviours. The study concluded that intensive mobile phone use among IMT Enugu students correlates negatively with face-to-face communication confidence and frequency. It was recommended that the institution integrate interpersonal communication skills training into orientation programmes and promote structured offline social engagement activities to balance mediated and unmediated interaction habits.
Keywords: mobile phone, interpersonal communication, social displacement, IMT Enugu, face-to-face interaction