The relationship between physical activity and sleep disorders in adolescents: a chain-mediated model of anxiety and mobile phone dependence

The lagged effects of parent-child relationship on internet addiction: parallel mediation of psychological need frustration and self-esteem

BACKGROUND

Adolescent Internet addiction has emerged as a major social and public health concern worldwide. Previous studies have indicated that parent-child relationship plays a crucial role in adolescent Internet addiction. However, most of these studies have adopted a cross-sectional design, making it difficult to reveal the lagged effects of the parent-child relationship on adolescent Internet addiction and its underlying developmental mechanisms.

METHODS

This study conducted a three-wave survey over one year, employing cluster sampling between October 2023 and October 2024. The survey assessed parent-child relationship, Internet addiction, basic psychological need frustration, and self-esteem among 2,483 adolescents (Mage = 13.82, SD = 1.53; 51.71% girls) from two middle schools in Shaanxi, China. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0. Additionally, the lagged effect of T1 parent-child relationship on T3 Internet addiction, as well as the parallel mediating roles of T2 basic psychological needs frustration and T2 self-esteem in this lagged effect, were examined using PROCESS macro Model 4.

RESULTS

(1) The lagged effect of T1 parent-child relationship on T3 Internet addiction was significant (β = -0.20, SE = 0.03, p < 0.001). (2) T2 basic psychological need frustration (β = -0.06, SE = 0.01, 95% CI: -0.08, - 0.04) and T2 self-esteem (β = -0.02, SE = 0.01, 95% CI: -0.04, - 0.01) served as parallel mediators in the lagged effect of T1 parent-child relationship on T3 Internet addiction.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide empirical evidence for preventing and intervening in adolescent Internet addiction and hold significant implications for reducing its risk.

Mobile phone addiction was the mediator and physical activity was the moderator between bullying victimization and sleep quality

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Bullying victimization is strongly associated with sleep quality issues in primary school students, yet the underlying mechanisms among these variables require further exploration. This study investigates the mediating role of mobile phone addiction and the moderating role of physical activity in the relationship between bullying victimization and sleep quality among primary school students, contributing to a deeper understanding of these psychological processes.

METHODS

This study utilized a convenience sampling method to recruit 502 primary school students in 2023. The sample included 232 boys and 270 girls, with ages ranging from 10 to 12 years (mean age = 11.15 ± 0.62). Participants were recruited from specific region or school district to ensure a diverse representation of the target population. Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained from both the students and their parents or guardians prior to data collection.

RESULTS

Bullying victimization was significantly positively correlated with both sleep quality issues and mobile phone addiction. Additionally, mobile phone addiction was significantly positively correlated with sleep quality issues. The analysis confirmed that mobile phone addiction mediates the relationship between bullying victimization and sleep quality. Furthermore, physical activity was found to moderate the relationship between bullying victimization and mobile phone addiction.

CONCLUSIONS

This study elucidates the psychological mechanisms underlying the relationship between bullying victimization and sleep quality among primary school students. Mobile phone addiction serves as a mediating factor, while physical activity acts as a moderating factor in the link between bullying victimization and mobile phone addiction. These findings underscore the importance of addressing mobile phone addiction and promoting physical activity as part of targeted interventions to improve sleep quality among primary school students.

The impact of physical exercise on internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors among middle school students: correlation and regression prediction analysis

BACKGROUND

This study explored the impact of physical exercise on internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors among Chinese middle school students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 6368 middle school students from Sichuan, Guangdong, Shandong, Henan, and Jiangxi provinces, using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Achenbach Youth Self-Report (YSR), and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scales (DASS). Latent class analysis, multiple linear regression, and Kendall's tau coefficient tests were employed to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Physical exercise significantly reduced externalizing problem behaviors, including impulsivity (β = 0.188, p < 0.001), hostility (β = 0.129, p < 0.001), and aggressiveness (β = 0.158, p < 0.001), and also alleviated depression (β = 0.087, p < 0.01). Latent class analysis revealed that students with high levels of exercise had significantly fewer externalizing behaviors compared to low-level exercisers (p < 0.001). High-intensity exercise had greater effects, particularly on impulsivity and hostility. Rural male students exhibited higher levels of aggressiveness and hostility, while urban female students benefited more from exercise interventions.

CONCLUSION

Physical exercise has a significant positive impact on reducing externalizing problem behaviors, especially impulsivity, hostility, and aggressiveness, among middle school students. However, its effects on internalizing behaviors are relatively limited. Intervention strategies should consider individual characteristics such as gender and location to maximize effectiveness.

Anxiety and inhibitory control play a chain mediating role between compassion fatigue and Internet addiction disorder among nursing staff

Mental health problems among nurses are prevalent and harmful. Nurses worldwide have encountered serious mental health issues. Although fatigue has been proven to lead to substance abuse or addictive behaviors (such as internet addiction), there is a lack of sufficient data on whether there is a connection with compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is a common mental health problem in helping professions. Anxiety and inhibitory control have been demonstrated to be associated with internet addiction, but the mediating role between them in the state of compassion fatigue remains to be further explored. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the chain-mediating effect of anxiety and inhibitory control between compassion fatigue and internet addiction in the nurse population. From July to August 2024, a questionnaire survey was conducted using a convenience sampling method in 7 hospitals in Hunan Province, China. A total of 516 front-line clinical nurses were included, among whom 17 were male and 499 were female. Subjective data on compassion fatigue, internet addiction, anxiety, and inhibitory control were collected and analyzed. SPSS 26.0 and its PROCESS macro-plugin were used for data analysis. After controlling for age and gender, compassion fatigue was found to be a significant predictor of internet addiction (β = 0.40, P < 0.001). However, when anxiety and inhibitory control were added, the prediction of compassion fatigue on internet addiction in the nurse population remained significant (β = 0.18, P < 0.001). Eventually, the research results show that compassion fatigue can predict internet addiction through anxiety and inhibitory control. It is recommended that nursing managers provide appropriate emotional interventions for nurses with compassion fatigue or adjust the shift-scheduling and leave system to prevent the occurrence of internet addiction.

Association between internet addiction and insomnia among college freshmen: the chain mediation effect of emotion regulation and anxiety and the moderating role of gender

BACKGROUND

The advancement of the information age has led to the widespread use of the internet, accompanied by numerous internet-related issues that often correlate with various physical and mental health conditions, particularly among college freshmen. We examined the relationship between internet addiction (IA) and insomnia among these students, using emotion regulation (ER) and anxiety as mediators and gender as a moderating variable.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 7,353 freshmen from a university in Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, China. Data were collected through an online self-administered questionnaire, including the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Emotion Regulation subscale (ER), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 21.0 and PROCESS version 4.1 to test the hypothesized relationships among variables.

RESULTS

In our survey, correlation analysis showed that ER was significantly negatively correlated with IA, anxiety, and insomnia; IA was significantly positively correlated with anxiety and insomnia (all p < 0.01). The mediating effect analysis indicated that IA was a significant positive predictor of insomnia. ER and anxiety played a chain - mediating role in the development of insomnia (β = 0.039, 95% confidence interval = 0.035-0.043). The moderating effect analysis showed that the interaction term of IA and gender had a significant negative predictive effect on ER (β = -0.014, 95% confidence interval [-0.027, -0.001]) and insomnia (β = -0.022, 95% confidence interval [-0.036, -0.007]). Males (direct effect: β = 0.048, 95% confidence interval = [0.037, 0.059]) had a stronger predictive ability for the level of insomnia than females (direct effect: β = 0.026, 95% confidence interval = [0.014, 0.037]). Females (indirect effect 1: β = 0.015, 95% confidence interval = [0.010, 0.020]; indirect effect 2: β = 0.041, 95% confidence interval = [0.037, 0.045]) had a stronger predictive ability for the level of insomnia through the level of IA than males (indirect effect 1: β = 0.014, 95% confidence interval = [0.009, 0.018]; indirect effect 2: β = 0.037, 95% confidence interval = [0.033, 0.041]).

CONCLUSION

IA can exacerbate insomnia in college freshmen by compromising their ER, subsequently triggering anxiety symptoms. The process differs by gender, suggesting tailored strategies for each. These findings may play crucial roles in promoting the physical and mental well-being of college freshmen.

Gender mediates the mediating effect of psychological capital between physical activity and depressive symptoms among adolescents

Adolescents develop rapidly, are sensitive to external environmental pressure, and are prone to depression symptoms. Physical activity has been identified as a protective factor for depressive symptoms. Psychological capital is strongly associated with depressive symptoms, and gender has been identified as a potential protective factor. For adolescents in early adolescence, the complex relationship between these factors needs further study. The aim of this study was to explore the mediating role of psychological capital between depressive symptoms and physical activity in adolescents, and the moderating role of gender between the two. Physical activity, depressive symptoms and psychological capital were measured by Physical Activity Rating Scale (par-3), Central Depression Scale (CES-D) and Psychological Capital Scale (PCQAS) in 1146 adolescents. The proposed relationships were tested using models 4 and 14 of the structural equation model, respectively, for mediating and regulating effects. Physical activity was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms and positively correlated with psychological capital. Psychological capital was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms and mediated the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms. Gender effectively modulates the latter half of the mediated model pathway. In adolescents, especially girls, depression symptoms can be alleviated and prevented by increasing daily physical activity and positive psychological capital reserve.

Impaired sleep quality mediates the relationship between internet gaming disorder and conduct problems among adolescents: a three-wave longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Research increasingly demonstrates a positive association between Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and conduct problems among adolescents. However, longitudinal data are limited, and the mediating mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the predictive effect of IGD on conduct problems and explore the mediating role of impaired sleep quality.

METHOD

A cohort of 20,137 Chinese seventh- and tenth-grade students was recruited and assessed at three time points: November 2020 (T1), 2021 (T2), and 2022 (T3). IGD, conduct problems, and impaired sleep quality were measured using the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale Short Form, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. Mediation analyses were conducted to evaluate the direct and indirect effect of IGD on conduct problems, with subgroup analyses based on sex and developmental stage.

RESULTS

IGD was found to be an independent risk factor for conduct problems both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Impaired sleep quality partially mediated the relationship between IGD and conduct problems, accounting for approximately 17.3% of the total effect. Subgroup analyses revealed that the mediation effect of impaired sleep quality was more pronounced in early adolescents and varied by sex, with a stronger total and direct effect in boys.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the need for comprehensive interventions targeting both IGD and impaired sleep quality, tailored to specific sexes and developmental stages, to effectively reduce conduct problems.

Child psychological maltreatment, depression, psychological inflexibility and difficulty in identifying feelings, a moderated mediation model

Child psychological maltreatment has a strong relationship with college students' depression. However, the potential mediating and moderating variables between the two need further exploration. This study collected subjective data of college students from two universities in China through a cross-sectional survey, including variables such as child psychological maltreatment, psychological inflexibility, difficulty in identifying feelings, and depression. Through correlation analysis, a mediation model and a moderated mediation model were constructed to explore the interrelationships among the variables.The research results show that there is a significant positive correlation between child psychological maltreatment, psychological inflexibility, difficulty in identifying feelings, and college students' depression. Moreover, psychological inflexibility plays a mediating role between child psychological maltreatment and college students' depression, while difficulty in identifying feelings significantly moderates the relationship between child psychological maltreatment and college students' depression. This study reveals the significant associations among child psychological maltreatment, psychological inflexibility, difficulty in identifying feelings, and college students' depression. These findings remind us to pay attention to the potential mediating role of psychological inflexibility and the moderating role of difficulty in identifying feelings when exploring the relationship between child psychological maltreatment and college students' depression. These results provide a new perspective for understanding the psychological mechanism of depression and offer potential targets for prevention and intervention.

The Chain Mediating Effect of Anxiety and Inhibitory Control and the Moderating Effect of Physical Activity Between Bullying Victimization and Internet Addiction in Chinese Adolescents

This study aimed to investigate the chain mediating roles of anxiety and inhibitory control in the relationship between bullying victimization and internet addiction among Chinese adolescents, as well as the moderating effect of physical activity. A cross-sectional design was employed, sampling 1,585 adolescents from 5 provinces in China during February-March 2024. Data on bullying victimization, internet addiction, anxiety, inhibitory control, and physical activity were collected and analyzed using a moderated chain mediation model. The data suggest that bullying victimization is associated with internet addiction, and this association is also mediated by anxiety and inhibitory control. Furthermore, physical activity was found to significantly moderate the relationship between anxiety and inhibitory control. This study contributes to the understanding of how bullying victimization, anxiety, and inhibitory control are interrelated in the context of internet addiction development, with physical activity influencing this interplay. It highlights the potential of physical activity as a factor in mitigating the impact of bullying and its association with internet addiction.

Self-control moderates the impacts of physical activity on the sleep quality of university students

The study was designed to examine the role of self-control as a moderator in the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality in a sample of 2274 college students. We employed the Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Self-Control Scale to assess the variables. Our analysis revealed a significant correlation between physical activity levels and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (r = - 0.541, p < 0.01). Furthermore, self-control was found to be a significant moderating factor (β = 0.001, p < 0.01), indicating that the effect of physical activity on sleep quality is influenced by an individual's level of self-control. Since higher Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores indicate poorer sleep quality, the positive impacts of physical activity on sleep quality tended to diminish with increasing self-control levels. Conversely, the positive impacts of physical activity on sleep quality appeared to intensify as self-control levels decreased. Individuals with lower self-control seemed to benefit the most from increased physical activity, whereas those with higher self-control demonstrated superior sleep quality. The findings highlight the significance of fostering self-regulatory abilities alongside engaging in physical activity as a promising approach to improve sleep health in college students.

Physical activity and happiness of college students: chain mediating role of exercise attitude and sleep quality

Introduction

This study explores the role of physical activity, exercise attitude, and sleep quality in college students' happiness, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for improving college students' mental health.

Methods

The study employed a whole group sampling method, utilizing a physical activity level scale, exercise attitude scale, sleep quality scale, and happiness scale. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 1,308 college students from four universities in China.

Results

The analysis yielded three key findings: (1) Physical activity significantly improves college students' happiness, and this improvement can be achieved through direct and indirect effects. (2) Positive exercise attitude plays an important mediating role between physical activity and happiness, and a high level of exercise attitude can enhance happiness. In addition, the effect of physical activity on happiness is most significant through exercise attitude. (3) Although sleep quality did not significantly mediate the relationship between physical activity and happiness alone, it played a positive role in the chain mediation path of "physical activity → exercise attitude → sleep quality → happiness."

Discussion

The discovery of the chain mediation path shows that physical activity not only affects happiness, but also indirectly affects college students' happiness through the combined effects of psychological and physiological factors.

Anxiety mediated the relationship between bullying victimization and internet addiction in adolescents, and family support moderated the relationship

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to discuss anxiety in mediating role between bullying victimization and adolescent internet addiction, and the moderating role of family support between bullying victimization and adolescent anxiety.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 5 provinces of China by convenience sampling from February to March 2024. A total of 1395 participants (599 boys and 796 girls) with an average age of 15.86 ± 0.74 years were included in the final analysis. Subjective data on bullying victimization, internet addiction, anxiety, and family support were collected and analyzed. A moderated mediation model was constructed.

RESULTS

After controlling for age and gender, bullying victimization was found to be a significant predictor of internet addiction (β = 0.130, p < 0.001). Anxiety has a complete mediating effect between bullying victimization and adolescent internet addiction. Specifically, bullying victimization significantly predicted adolescent anxiety (β = 0.264, p < 0.001). anxiety significantly predicted adolescent internet addiction (β = 0.417, p < 0.001). Family support alleviated the relationship between bullying victimization and anxiety (β= -0.032, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Bullying victimization can predict internet addiction through anxiety in adolescents, and family support can alleviate the predictive relationship between bullying victimization and adolescent anxiety. It is suggested that guardians should provide adequate support to adolescent bullying victimization in order to reduce the negative impact of bullying victimization on adolescents and prevent the occurrence of internet addiction.