Longitudinal associations among smartphone addiction, loneliness, and depressive symptoms in college students: Disentangling between- And within-person associations

A cross-lagged panel network analysis of loneliness, internet use, and depression among Chinese college students

BACKGROUND

Displacement theory proposes that internet use can lead to heightened feelings of loneliness and depression, whereas the stimulation theory posits the opposite pathway. However, most investigations on this topic have been cross-sectional, precluding causal inferences. Thus, we used cross-lagged network analyses to facilitate causal inferences in understanding the relations between Internet use, loneliness and depression.

METHODS

The participants (N = 25,249) who were recruited from 22 colleges in Guangdong province, China completed the survey in 2020 and 2021. This study examined the interactions between Internet use, loneliness and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) among this participants. All analyses adjusted for demographics.

RESULTS

Contemporaneous networks revealed strong connections within the depression cluster and negligible associations between loneliness and internet use. Key bridging nodes were loneliness, guilt, anhedonia, and concentration problems, which linked constructs across the network. Temporal analyses did not support either the displacement or stimulation hypotheses, showing that higher loneliness predicted future depressive symptoms such as sad mood and anhedonia, as well as marginally higher internet use. Internet use exhibited mixed effects, weakly reducing suicide risk while marginally exacerbating depressive symptoms over time.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the importance of loneliness as a central driver and highlight the nuanced role of internet use.

Internet gaming disorder predicts the incidence, persistence, and worsening of suicidal ideation: A population-based cohort study of 96,158 Chinese adolescents

INTRODUCTION

While cross-sectional studies suggest a strong association between internet gaming disorder (IGD) and suicidal ideation, longitudinal evidence is limited. This two-wave longitudinal study investigated whether IGD predicts the one-year incidence, persistence, and worsening of suicidal ideation.

METHODS

A total of 96,158 Chinese adolescents were assessed in November 2022 and one year later. IGD was measured using the 9-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), categorizing participants as non-gamers, gamers without IGD, and gamers with IGD. Suicidal ideation and their severity were evaluated using the ninth item of the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Baseline demographics, lifestyle factors, and internalizing and externalizing problems were collected and controlled. Multiple logistic regression models examined associations between IGD and incident, persistent, and worsening suicidal ideation, with subgroup and sensitivity analyses performed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of baseline suicidal ideation was 21.4 %, including 17.5 % mild, 2.5 % moderate, and 1.3 % severe. The one-year incidence and persistence rates of suicidal ideation were 13.8 % and 50.1 %, respectively. Among 19,254 adolescents with mild or moderate suicidal ideation, 1656 reported worsening over the year. Compared to non-gamers, gamers with IGD had a higher risk of incident (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.95; 95 % CI, 1.57-2.42), persistent (AOR, 1.56; 95 % CI, 1.34-1.82), and worsening suicidal ideation (AOR, 1.75; 95 % CI, 1.37-2.23) (all p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

IGD contributes to the development, persistence, and worsening of suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents. Targeted interventions addressing IGD may reduce suicidal ideation in this population.

LIMITATIONS

Self-reported data potentially introduced bias.

Adaptation and Validation of the Spanish Version of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS)

Smartphone addiction is very prevalent among university students and can negatively impact both their physical and mental health. This study aimed to translate the smartphone application-based addiction scale (SABAS) into Spanish and evaluate its psychometric properties among Spanish university students. A total of 297 university students (222 women and 75 men) participated in this study (M age = 20.88, SD = 4.58) by completing a sociodemographic questionnaire, the smartphone addiction scale-short version, the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21, the fear of missing out scale, and the SABAS. The SABAS was translated into Spanish using the forward-backward method. The factor structure was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis, while reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients. The SABAS showed acceptable reliability (α = 0.72; ω = 0.73), and all of its items were kept. Factor analysis revealed that the Spanish version of the SABAS was unifactorial and demonstrated excellent validity (χ2 = 10.285; p = 0.246; RMSEA = 0.034; CFI = 0.991; SRMR = 0.030). Significant associations were also observed between the SABAS score and the number of hours of smartphone use, fear of missing out, and psychological distress. Despite its brevity, the Spanish version of the SABAS provides good validity and reliability. Therefore, it can be used as a tool for screening smartphone addiction in Spanish university students.

More envy, more loneliness? not only that: A longitudinal study and daily diary study

Although cross-sectional studies have explored the correlation between envy and loneliness, few longitudinal studies have investigated the bidirectional association between envy and loneliness at both trait and state levels. Here, through a longitudinal study and a daily diary investigation, we examined the interrelationships between envy and loneliness at both trait and state levels. In study 1, 288 college students answered the Dispositional Envy Scale (DES) and UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCL-8 Scale) twice with a one-year interval. The results of cross-lagged analysis indicated that dispositional envy could predict trait loneliness, while not vice versa. In study 2, using the adapted items form DES and UCL-8, a 14-day diary survey from a sample of 195 college students was conducted to investigate the interrelationship between state envy and state loneliness. The results of multivariate latent growth models and hierarchical linear models indicated that state envy could positively predict state loneliness and vice versa. Taken together, these findings uncover the bidirectional relationship between envy and loneliness at both the trait and state levels.

Psychometric evaluation and measurement invariance of the problematic smartphone use scale among college students: A national survey of 130 145 participants

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Given the insufficient validation of previously imported smartphone addiction scales in China, this study revised and evaluated the Problematic Smartphone Use Scale among Chinese college students (PSUS-C).

METHODS

We based our research on a national sample comprising 1324 higher education institutions and 130 145 participants. Using cross-sectional data, comprehensive methods were employed to examine validity, reliability and measurement invariance.

RESULTS

The final scale consists of 20 items across four dimensions: withdrawal and loss of control, negative impact, salience behaviors and excessive use. All Heterotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) values were below 0.85, and the lower 90% and upper 95% confidence intervals were also below 0.85, except for factors 1 and 3. The amount of variance (AVE) values were greater than 0.5, composite reliability (ω) values exceeded 0.89 and all factor loadings were above 0.5. The criterion validity was supported as expected: problematic smartphone usage positively correlated with depression (r = 0.451), loneliness (8 items, r = 0.455), loneliness (6 items, r = 0.504), social media use (r = 0.614) and phone usage duration (r = 0.148); and negatively correlated with life satisfaction (r = -0.218) and self-esteem (r = -0.416). Across sex, type of university and place of residence, the measurement invariance performed well, with most changes in root mean square error of approximation (ΔRMSEA), comparative fit index (ΔCFI) and Tucker-Lewis index (ΔTLI) values being less than 0.005, and no indicator showing a difference greater than 0.010.

CONCLUSIONS

The Problematic Smartphone Use Scale for College Students (PSUS-C) demonstrated good factor structure, internal consistency, construct validity, discriminant validity and criterion validity. Strict and structural invariance were demonstrated across sex, type of university and place of residence. The PSUS-C has the potential to assess smartphone addiction among Chinese university students.

The Effect of Self-Esteem on Mobile Phone Addiction Among College Students: Sequential Mediating Effects of Online Upward Social Comparison and Social Anxiety

Purpose

Mobile phone addiction threatens individuals' physiological, psychological, and social functions, particularly among college students. While existing theories suggest a strong link between self-esteem and mobile phone addiction, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to examine the relationship between self-esteem and mobile phone addiction in Chinese college students, exploring the chain mediation effects of online upward social comparison and social anxiety.

Participants and Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an offline questionnaire survey with 789 Chinese college students, employing convenience sampling in Shaanxi Province, China. Four validated instruments were employed: Self-Esteem Scale, Mobile Phone Addiction Index, Online Upward Social Comparison Scale, and Social Anxiety Scale. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and mediation testing were performed to analyze the data.

Results

The results showed that self-esteem influences mobile phone addiction through three pathways: (1) self-esteem → online upward social comparison → mobile phone addiction, with a 95% confidence interval of [-0.048, -0.010], indicating a significant mediation effect (effect value = -0.027, accounting for 14.86% of the total effect); (2) self-esteem → social anxiety → mobile phone addiction, with a 95% confidence interval of [-0.182, -0.106], indicating a significant mediation effect (effect value = -0.143, accounting for 78.57% of the total effect); (3) self-esteem → online upward social comparison → social anxiety → mobile phone addiction, with a 95% confidence interval of [-0.016, -0.003], suggesting a significant mediation effect (effect value = -0.009, accounting for 4.95% of the total effect).

Conclusion

These findings indicate that online upward social comparison and social anxiety serially mediate the relationship between self-esteem and mobile phone addiction. The study reveals how self-esteem contributes to mobile phone addiction among college students and provides insights for prevention and intervention strategies.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Mobile Screen Dependence in Arab Women Screened with Psychological Stress: A Cross-Talk with Demographics and Insomnia

Background/Objectives: The current study aims to investigate the rate and the factors associated with mobile screen dependence as a coping mechanism among women residing in Jordan and screened for stress, with a focus on demographics and insomnia. Methods: This cross-sectional study with predefined inclusion criteria used validated tools to assess stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Results: The data analyzed from 431 women showed that 265 (61.5%) were ≤25 years old, 352 (81.7%) received a university education, and 201 (46.6%) were current students. In addition, 207 (48.0%) reported a dependence on mobile screens for coping, 107 (24.8%) reported severe anxiety, and 180 (41.7%) reported severe insomnia. The multivariable regression analysis revealed that mobile screen dependence-as a personal coping choice-was significantly associated with "students" (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.19-2.57, p = 0.004) and "severe insomnia" (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.07-2.32, p = 0.02). Conclusions: We report that a high rate of mobile dependence is associated with students and insomnia. Prompt action should be taken to raise awareness regarding the proper coping mechanisms in this population.

Associations between mobile phone involvement, BMI levels, and sleep quality among Chinese university students: evidence from a multi-regional large-scale survey

Objective

This study aims to explore the association between mobile phone involvement, body mass index (BMI) levels, and the sleep quality of Chinese university students.

Methods

Using a cluster sampling method, we selected 17,085 university students from three universities in eastern, central, and western China as the study subjects. Demographic information such as age and sex were collected. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Mobile Phone Involvement Questionnaire (MPIQ) were utilized to measure their sleep quality scores and mobile phone involvement scores, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis, two-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression were employed to examine the relationship between BMI levels, mobile phone involvement, and sleep quality.

Results

The results show that 15.87% (2,712 participants) are classified as overweight, and 18.45% (3,151 participants) are classified as obese. Additionally, 35.87% (6,125 participants) exhibit mobile phone involvement, while 57.94% (9,899 participants) reported poor sleep quality. Pearson correlation analysis indicates a significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between sleep quality and both BMI levels and mobile phone involvement. Two-way ANOVA shows the significant effect of BMI levels (p < 0.001) and mobile phone involvement (p < 0.001) on sleep quality, and there is no interaction effect between the two. Additionally, the sleep quality of overweight and obese individuals is significantly poorer than that of those with normal weight (p < 0.05), while the sleep quality of overweight individuals is significantly lower than that of obese individuals (p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis indicates that, after controlling for age and gender, both BMI (β = -2.69) levels and mobile phone involvement (β = -1.34) are significantly negatively associated with sleep quality (p < 0.001), accounting for 19% of the variance in poor sleep quality.

Conclusion

This study found that BMI levels and mobile phone involvement are both independently associated with sleep quality among Chinese university students. However, among individuals with excess BMI, although their sleep quality is worse than individuals with normal weight, overweight individuals may have poorer sleep quality than obese individuals. This study also revealed high rates of overweight and obesity, with over half of participants reporting poor sleep quality, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address weight management and mobile phone usage to improve sleep health in this population.

Within-person reciprocal links between stress, sleep, and depressive symptoms across Latino/a adolescents' transition to and through college

Evidence suggests bidirectional relations between stress, sleep, and depressive symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. Less research has disaggregated within- and between-person variance in these associations over time or within Latino/a college students. This study examined longitudinal, within-person reciprocal relations between stress, sleep, and depressive symptoms among 181 Latino/a adolescents (M age = 18.10; SD = 0.41, 35% male) transitioning to college. Participants were assessed in their senior year of high school and annually until their fourth year of college. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) was used to parse out within- and between-person sources of variance. Results indicated overall (between-person) relations among depressive symptoms and school/college stress and sleep problems. There were reciprocal within-person links between stress and sleep problems across the first two years of college. Within-person increases in depressive symptoms during the second year of college predicted more stress than usual in the third year, which predicted increased depressive symptoms in the fourth year. More sleep problems than usual in the third year of college predicted higher stress in the fourth year. Findings provide evidence for within-person cross-lagged relations among various domains of adjustment during college and may inform future prevention efforts for incoming Latino/a college students targeting mental health and sleep problems.

Longitudinal Associations Between Sleep Disturbance Trajectories and Internet Gaming Disorder Mediated by Self-Control: A Six-Wave Longitudinal Investigation

Objective

The present study aims to analyze the heterogeneous trajectories of sleep disturbance (SD) among college students and to examine whether self-control mediates the association between sleep disturbance trajectories and Internet gaming disorder (IGD).

Methods

A total of 4352 students were initially invited to participate, and 4191 (M age = 19.12, SD = 0.98; 46.9% females) students were included as valid respondents at the first time-point. This study spanned six waves (from 2019 to 2022) with a six-month interval between each wave. Sleep disturbance was measured from Time 1 to Time 4, self-control was measured at Time 5, and Internet gaming disorder was measured at Time 6. Growth mixture modeling (GMM) was applied to identify latent classes of sleep disturbance over the four waves. Mediation analysis was conducted to examine the mediating role of self-control between sleep disturbance trajectories and IGD.

Results

The results of growth mixture modelling yielded a four-class solution for sleep disturbance: a stable-low group, an increasing group, a decreasing group, and a stable-high group. Additionally, the results of mediation models showed that increased sleep disturbance is associated with a higher likelihood of individuals becoming more addicted to Internet games due to decreased self-control. Conversely, improved sleep quality may decrease the likelihood of engaging in Internet games via by promoting higher levels of self-control.

Conclusion

Future prevention and intervention programs targeted at improving self-control may decrease the possibility of developing IGD.

The relationship between loneliness and psychological distress among Chinese college students: the mediating role of mobile phone addiction and the moderating role of core self-evaluation

Previous studies showed that loneliness and psychological distress are related. However, the potential mechanisms involved in this relationship are unknown. This study examined the mediating effect of mobile phone addiction and the moderating effect of core self-evaluation on the relationship between mobile phone addiction and psychological distress. A total of 826 college students were recruited. A cross-sectional study design and an online questionnaire survey were employed to measure loneliness, mobile phone addiction, core self-evaluation, and psychological distress in college students, and used the PROCESS macro program to conduct moderated mediation analysis. Loneliness was significantly and positively associated with psychological distress, mobile phone addiction partially mediated the relation between Loneliness and college students' psychological distress and this indirect path was moderated by core self-evaluations. Specifically, the effect of mobile phone addiction on psychological distress was stronger for college students with lower core self-evaluations than for those with higher core self-evaluations. The results are helpful to comprehend the producing mechanism of psychological distress and provide a theoretical basis for the intervention of psychological distress.

The association between chronotype and social anxiety among Chinese university students: a moderated mediation analysis of loneliness and perceived social support

BACKGROUND

Social anxiety has been a burning problem among contemporary college students in China. Increasing evidence suggests that individual circadian typology-chronotype may play an important role in the development of social anxiety. However, little research has focused directly on examining the association between chronotype and social anxiety, and less is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relationship. The aim of the present study was to investigate the link between chronotype and social anxiety among Chinese college students, and to explore the mediating effect of loneliness and the moderating effect of perceived social support in the association between chronotype and social anxiety.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was conducted among 1616 college students (16-29 years old) from several public universities in Northern China, including 1172 females (72.52%) and 444 males (27.48%), with an average age of 19.68 years old (SD = 1.49). All participants completed the standardized self-report questionnaires including the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Common method bias was performed using Harman's single-factor test. The mediation and moderation effects were analyzed using SPSS software and PROCESS macros.

RESULTS

Chronotype had a negative predictive effect on social anxiety in college students. Specifically, the greater the inclination of individuals' chronotypes toward evening preference, the more pronounced their symptoms of social anxiety would be. Loneliness served as a partial mediator in the relationship between chronotype and social anxiety, accounting for 30.0% of the total effect. In addition, perceived social support, particularly from friends and significant others, was found to play a moderating role in the process of loneliness affecting social anxiety among college students, while support from family did not. Interestingly, the perceived social support displayed a limited protective effect when college students suffered from higher levels of loneliness.

CONCLUSION

These findings deepened our understanding of how and when (or for "whom") chronotype is related to social anxiety, offering a theoretical foundation and practical insights for preventing and addressing social anxiety risk in young adult university students, particularly those with evening chronotypes.

Alterations in functional connectivity in the salience network shared by depressive symptoms and smartphone overuse

Globally, the age when children start using smartphones has decreased. Concurrently, the increased use of smartphones among children in developmental stages has caused serious effects, such as depression. While neuroimaging studies have predicted a significant overlap between the neurobiological changes caused by depression and smartphone overuse, few have simultaneously examined them. Therefore, we examined resting-state functional connectivity (FC) changes due to smartphone overuse and depressive symptoms in 69 children. We observed that FC in the salience network and regions involved in visual (e.g., the lateral occipital cortex) and motivational processing (e.g., the putamen) increased with smartphone overuse and depressive symptoms. Additionally, FC partially mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and smartphone overuse, suggesting that changes in FC may be involved in the link between depressive symptoms and smartphone overuse. Our findings indicate that increased depressive symptoms could be associated with alterations in the salience network FC, which may influence visual attention or reward processing of salient stimuli, potentially contributing to smartphone overuse.

Lack of Parental Control Is Longitudinally Associated With Higher Smartphone Addiction Tendency in Young Children: A Population-Based Cohort Study

The purpose of the current study was to examine the risk factors of young children's smartphone addiction in a longitudinal study design. Data collected from 313 participants (mean age, 4.5 ± 0.82 years; male, 49.8%) over 4 years for Kids Cohort for Understanding of Internet Addiction Risk Factors in Early Childhood were analyzed in this study. Mixed effect models were used to evaluate the influence of various variables on the repeated measures of smartphone addiction tendency in young children over time. The multi-level analysis showed that parents' lack of control over children's smartphone use (t = -4.523; 95% confidence interval [CI], -7.32, -1.72), and parents' higher smartphone addiction proneness (t = 6.340; 95% CI, 0.23, 0.440) predicted higher smartphone addiction tendency in young children. The responsibility of the parents to prevent their children from becoming addicted to smartphones should start in a very early age when they start using the smartphones.

The Vicious Cycle between Loneliness and Problematic Smartphone Use among Adolescents: A Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model

Despite extensive research on the psychological impacts of digital technology, the nuanced dynamics between adolescent loneliness and problematic smartphone use, particularly across different educational levels and genders, remain underexplored. This study aims to fill this gap by employing a Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model to dissect the bidirectional relationship between loneliness and problematic smartphone use among adolescents, with a focus on the moderating roles of educational levels and gender. Engaging 3132 students from various educational institutions in China, the research conducted a three-wave longitudinal analysis across 2022-2023. The final number of participants included 1120 adolescents (53.5% female; age in 2022: M = 14.57 years, SD = 1.57). Results reveal that loneliness significantly predicts problematic smartphone use, but not vice versa, highlighting a unidirectional influence. The study uncovers crucial differences across educational levels and gender, emphasizing the stronger effect of loneliness on problematic smartphone use among junior high students and female adolescents. These findings underscore the complexity of adolescent loneliness and its relationship with digital behavior, suggesting a need for tailored interventions considering both gender and developmental stages.

The Impact of Problematic Internet Use on Adolescent Loneliness-Chain Mediation Effects of Social Support and Family Communication

Purpose

To explore the relationship between adolescents' problematic Internet use and loneliness and the mediating roles of social support and family communication.

Methods

A questionnaire survey of 2483 adolescents aged 12-17 years in 148 cities in China was conducted using the Problematic Internet Use Scale, the Collaborative Social Support Scale, the Family Communication Scale, and the Loneliness Scale. The data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 26.0 and validated by AMOS 28.0. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was conducted to test the effects of problematic Internet use on adolescents' loneliness and the mediating effects of perceptions of social support and family communication.

Results

There was a significant positive effect of adolescents' problematic Internet use on loneliness (B-0.471, P<0.001), and the mediating effects of perceptual social support (0.003, 0.012) and family communication (0.008, 0.019) were found to play a chain effect between adolescents' problematic Internet use and loneliness, respectively. Use and feelings of loneliness played a chain mediating role (0.002, 0.006).

Conclusion

This study identified the effects of adolescent problematic Internet use on loneliness and its mechanism of action, emphasized the importance of social support and family communication, and provided practical insights for improving family parenting styles and preventing and intervening in adolescent loneliness problems.

Relationship between smartphone addiction, loneliness, and depression in adolescents: A correlational structural equation modeling study

PURPOSE

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between smartphone addiction, loneliness, and depression in adolescents.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This study was designed in a correlational-cross-sectional-descriptive model and was conducted with 1041 adolescents attending high schools in a provincial center in Eastern Turkey. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a personal information form, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version for Adolescents, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale.

RESULTS

The average scores for smartphone addiction were found to be higher among females, individuals with low academic success, and those with a high-income level. Similarly, the average scores for loneliness were higher among individuals residing in broken families and those with parents who have limited literacy. Additionally, the mean scores for depression were higher among individuals with low academic success and those with a high-income level. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between the duration of smartphone use and levels of smartphone addiction, loneliness, and depression.

CONCLUSION

Smartphone addiction, loneliness, and depression were found to be prevalent above the moderate level in adolescents. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was observed between the depression and loneliness scores of adolescents.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Pediatric and school nurses should assess children's phone use. Nurses are well-positioned to establish a follow-up program aimed at monitoring adolescents' efforts in managing smartphone use, offering continuous support, and providing guidance when necessary. The implementation of such programs enables prompt intervention in addressing any arising issues.

The Impact of Problematic Smartphone Use on Sleep Quality Among Chinese Young Adults: Investigating Anxiety and Depression as Mediators in a Three-Wave Longitudinal Study

Background

Sleep disorders are a significant health issue that urgently needs to be addressed among undergraduate students, and one of the potential underlying problems could be problematic smartphone use (PSU). This study aimed to clarify the relationship between PSU and poor sleep quality by investigating the independent and serial mediating roles of anxiety and depressive symptoms in a population of university students in Tibet, China.

Methods

A total of 2993 Tibetan college students completed three waves of data surveys, with all participants completing questionnaires on PSU, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality (Time 1 (T1) -Time 3 (T3)). Bootstrapped mediation analysis was used to explore the mediating role of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the longitudinal relationship between PSU and sleep quality.

Results

Both direct and indirect effects of PSU on poor sleep quality were found. PSU (T1) can had not only a direct negative influence on poor sleep quality (T3) among young adults (direct effect = 0.021, 95% CI = 0.010-0.033) but also an indirect negative impact via three pathways: the independent mediating effect of anxiety symptoms (T2) (indirect effect 1 = 0.003, 95% CI = 0.001-0.006), the independent mediating effect of depressive symptoms (T2) (indirect effect 2 = 0.004, 95% CI = 0.002-0.006), and the serial mediating effects of anxiety (T2) and depressive symptoms (T2) (indirect effect 3 = 0.008, 95% CI=0.005-0.011).

Conclusion

These findings highlight the role of anxiety and depression symptoms as joint mediating factors in the relationship between PSU and sleep disturbances. Interventions focused on improving sleep that incorporate behavioural measures could benefit from treatment approaches targeting mental disorders.

The relationship between health-promoting behaviors and negative emotions in college freshmen: a cross-lagged analysis

Background

The prevalence of mental health issues has been gradually increasing among college students in recent years. Improvements in mental health can be achieved through changes in daily behavior and the use of psychological counseling. This study aims to investigate the relationship between health-promoting behaviors and negative emotions among college freshmen as they enter the university. It also examines the impact of various sub-dimensions of health-promoting behaviors and other factors on the negative emotions (stress, anxiety, and depression) experienced by college freshmen.

Methods

Using the Negative Emotion and Health-Promoting Behavior scales, a 7-month longitudinal study was conducted on 4,252 college freshmen, with collection of data at two time points (T1: November 12, 2021; T2: June 17, 2022). Out of this longitudinal study, 3,632 valid samples were obtained. This research aimed to explore the association and impact between negative emotions and the level of health-promoting behaviors among college students during their time at the university.

Results

① There were significant differences in the levels of health-promoting behaviors and negative emotions over the course of 7 months (P < 0.05). Health-promoting behaviors were found to have a significant negative correlation with negative emotions (P < 0.05). ② Negative emotions at T1 significantly negatively predicted health-promoting behaviors at T2 (β = -0.11, P < 0.01), while health-promoting behaviors at T1 significantly negatively predicted negative emotions at T2 (β = -0.12, P < 0.001). ③ Stress management (β = -0.104, P < 0.05; β = -0.087, P < 0.05), self-actualization (β = -0.282, P < 0.01; β = -0.260, P < 0.05), health responsibility (β = -0.057, P < 0.05; β = -0.088, P < 0.05), and interpersonal relations (β = 0.068, P < 0.01; β = 0.138, P < 0.05) were important components in improving stress and anxiety. Self-actualization (β = -0.437, P < 0.001), exercise (β = 0.048, P < 0.001), nutrition (β = 0.044, P < 0.001), and interpersonal relations (β = 0.065, P < 0.001) were important components in improving depression. ④ Gender, place of household registration, and whether the individual is the only child were significant factors affecting negative emotions in college freshmen.

Conclusion

The level of health-promoting behaviors is an important indicator for assessing the negative emotional states of college freshmen. Enhancing health-promoting behaviors across various dimensions can help alleviate different types of negative emotions. Gender, place of household registration, and being the only child are significant factors that influence negative emotions.

Interpersonal sensitivity as a mediator linking interpersonal stressors and social anxiety: Longitudinal mediation analysis using parallel process latent growth curve modeling

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the mechanism between interpersonal stressors and social anxiety in college students. This study was to investigate the mediating effect of interpersonal sensitivity between interpersonal stressors and social anxiety.

METHODS

The data was taken from a large-scale health-related cohort among Chinese college students. This study used data from the first four waves, including 4191 participants. The latent growth curve mediation model was used to examine the potential mediating role of interpersonal sensitivity in the relationship between interpersonal stressors and social anxiety over time.

RESULTS

Both levels and changes in interpersonal stressors were positively associated with subsequent levels and changes in social anxiety. Mediation analysis showed that interpersonal sensitivity mediated the relationship between interpersonal stressors and social anxiety.

LIMITATION

All variables were collected based on self-report.

CONCLUSIONS

Interpersonal stressor is a significant risk factor for social anxiety, and this association appears to be mediated by interpersonal sensitivity. It is necessary to evaluate and intervene against interpersonal sensitivity related to interpersonal stressors for the prevention of social anxiety.

Bidirectional associations between loneliness and problematic internet use: A meta-analytic review of longitudinal studies

BACKGROUND

Loneliness and problematic Internet use (PIU) are both major public health concerns around the world. These two constructs have long been linked, but there is conflicting evidence regarding the temporal nature of the loneliness-PIU relationship.

METHOD

We searched 8 databases to identify studies examining longitudinal associations between loneliness and PIU published on or before August 2023. From the 316 articles identified, 26 studies were included with a total of 23,382 participants.

RESULTS

Moderate, positive, and significant prospective pathways were found from loneliness to PIU (r = 0.287, p < 0.001, 95 % CI [0.241, 0.331]), and from PIU to loneliness (r = 0.255, p < 0.001, 95 % CI [0.205, 0.303]). Moderator analyses suggested that the association of loneliness with PIU was stronger in samples from Eastern countries, with more males, more young adults, less time passed, and in more recent years. The association of PIU with loneliness was stronger in samples from Eastern countries, with more males, more young adults, and in more recent years.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analytic review provided the first estimation for the overall bidirectional longitudinal associations between loneliness and PIU. A deeper comprehension of the relations has implications for loneliness and PIU intervention programs, where interventions targeting both constructs might be fruitfully applied.

The positive and negative emotion functions related to loneliness: a systematic review of behavioural and neuroimaging studies

Loneliness is associated with high prevalences of major psychiatric illnesses such as major depression. However, the underlying emotional mechanisms of loneliness remained unclear. We hypothesized that loneliness originates from both decreases in positive emotional processing and increases in negative emotion processing. To test this, we conducted a systematic review of 29 previous studies (total participants n = 19 560, mean age = 37.16 years, female proportion = 59.7%), including 18 studies that included questionnaire measures of emotions only, and 11 studies that examined the brain correlates of emotions. The main findings were that loneliness was negatively correlated with general positive emotions and positively correlated with general negative emotions. Furthermore, limited evidence indicates loneliness exhibited negative and positive correlations with the brain positive (e.g. the striatum) and negative (e.g. insula) emotion systems, respectively, but the sign of correlation was not entirely consistent. Additionally, loneliness was associated with the structure and function of the brain emotion regulation systems, particularly the prefrontal cortex, but the direction of this relationship remained ambiguous. We concluded that the existing evidence supported a bivalence model of loneliness, but several critical gaps existed that could be addressed by future studies that include adolescent and middle-aged samples, use both questionnaire and task measures of emotions, distinguish between general emotion and social emotion as well as between positive and negative emotion regulation, and adopt a longitudinal design that allows us to ascertain the causal relationships between loneliness and emotion dysfunction. Our findings provide new insights into the underlying emotion mechanisms of loneliness that can inform interventions for lonely individuals.