Exercise identity, exercise behavior and mobile phone addiction: A cross-sectional mediation study with a sample of rural left-behind children in China

Effects of physical activity and self-control on mobile phone addiction in college students: a cross-lagged study in China

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of physical activity and self-control on college students' mobile phone addiction through cross-lagged longitudinal surveys, addressing the limitations of previous cross-sectional studies.

Patients and methods

A total of 414 college students were tracked three times during a 12-month period using the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3), the Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale (MPATS), and the Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS). AMOS25.0 software was used to construct the cross-lagged relationship model, and the maximum likelihood approach was employed to investigate the model fitting. The asynchronous correlation between variables was investigated from the time series through the cross-lagged path coefficient.

Results

The fitting indexes of the cross-lagged model showed x 2/df = 5.098, GFI = 0.977, NFI = 0.969, IFI = 0.975, CFI = 0.974; RMSEA = 0.100, and SRMR = 0.030. The calculation conducted by combining the path coefficient of the model shows that PA and SC are the antecedent variables of MPA, and PA is the antecedent variable of SC. In addition, SC serves as a mediator in the path of PA, affecting MPA.

Conclusion

(1) physical activity can positively affect subsequent self-control; (2) physical activity can negatively influence subsequent mobile phone addiction; (3) self-control can negatively affect subsequent mobile phone addiction; and (4) physical activity can indirectly influence subsequent mobile phone addiction through self-control.

The longitudinal relationship between loneliness and both social anxiety and mobile phone addiction among rural left-behind children: A cross-lagged panel analysis

INTRODUCTION

Left-behind children are a special group that needs urgent attention. Due to enduring separation from their parents, loneliness is considered the most common and prevalent developmental hurdle in the experiences of left-behind children. This longitudinal cross-lagged study examined the direction of the association between loneliness and both internalizing and externalizing symptoms, with considering gender and left-behind status differences.

METHODS

A total of 1175 rural Chinese children (48.3% boys, 39.9% left-behind children, Mage = 14.54 ± 1.18 at baseline) completed self-reported loneliness, social anxiety, and mobile phone addiction at two-time points with 6 months intervals. Descriptive statistics, cross-lagged panel analysis, and multiple group analysis were estimated in the present study.

RESULTS

Loneliness exacerbated social anxiety and mobile phone addiction, and vice versa. In addition, gender and left-behind status moderated these relationships, with boys more likely to be mobile phone addicted due to loneliness and girls more likely to be lonely due to mobile phone addiction. More importantly, left-behind children with loneliness are more prone to social anxiety and mobile phone addiction, and vice versa, compared with non-left-behind children.

CONCLUSIONS

The targeted interventions should be carried out for different genders and left-behind statuses. Particularly for left-behind children, neglecting to address both the symptoms of loneliness and both social anxiety and mobile phone addiction could significantly undermine the efficacy of intervention programs that solely target either one of these afflictions.

Effect of Regular Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Function, Depression Level and Regulative Role of Neurotrophic Factor: A Prospective Cohort Study in the Young and the Middle-Aged Sample

Purpose

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and depressive disorder (DD), which are associated with unhealthy lifestyles, are prevalent worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effects of regular aerobic exercise on cognitive function, depression, and the regulatory role of neurotrophic growth factors for providing scientific basis in preventing MCI and DD in healthy individuals.

Patients and Methods

Eighty members of the fitness center and 80 community residents were recruited, who were administered by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the peripheral blood were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

The RBANS and other factor scores, except for visuospatial abilities, were higher and PHQ-9 scores were lower in the study group than in the control group. The concentrations of BDNF and GDNF in the study group were higher than those in the control group. RBANS and its factor scores positively and PHQ-9 negatively correlated with BDNF and GDNF levels. Finally, multiple regression analysis showed that BDNF, as a predictor of RBANS, could explain 59.90% of its variance and that GDNF was a predictor of PHQ-9 could explain 12.30% of the variance.

Conclusion

Regular aerobic exercise can improve cognitive function and depressive symptoms by increasing the BDNF and GDNF levels.

Network structure of mobile phone addiction and anxiety symptoms among rural Chinese adolescents

BACKGROUND

The incidence of mobile phone addiction among adolescents in rural areas of China is increasing year by year, and has already exceeded that of some cities. And phone addiction increases the risk of anxiety and poor sleep. Therefore, this study used network analysis to investigate the relationship between mobile phone addiction and anxiety symptoms, and the predictability to sleep quality.

METHODS

From September 2021 to March 2022, a total of 1920 rural adolescents in Xuzhou, China were included. The survey included information on phone addiction, anxiety symptoms, and sleep quality. Network analysis was used to estimate the network structure of adolescents' mobile phone addiction and anxiety symptoms. LOWESS curve and linear regression were used to test the predictive ability of node-centrality on sleep quality.

RESULTS

In the network of mobile phone addiction-anxiety symptoms, the most influential symptoms were Failure to cut down the time, Anxiety if not used for some time, and Alleviate loneliness. Irritability was the most prominent bridging symptom. Gender difference had no effect on network structure. Nodes in the network are not predictive of sleep quality.

CONCLUSION

Failure to cut down the time is the most important symptom, suggesting that measures should be taken to reduce the amount of time spent on mobile phones. For example, increase outdoor exercise, increase the real company of friends and family, in order to reduce the occurrence of mobile phone addiction and anxiety.