Prolonged Mobile Phone Use Is Associated with Poor Academic Performance in Adolescents

Dysrhythmic saliva microbiota in mobile phone addicts with sleep disorders and restored by acupuncture

Background

Mobile phone addiction (MPA) greatly affects the biological clock and sleep quality and is emerging as a behavioral disorder. The saliva microbiota has been linked to circadian rhythms, and our previous research revealed dysrhythmic saliva metabolites in MPA subjects with sleep disorders (MPASD). In addition, acupuncture had positive effects. However, the dysbiotic saliva microbiota in MPASD patients and the restorative effects of acupuncture are unclear.

Objectives

To probe the circadian dysrhythmic characteristics of the saliva microbiota and acupunctural restoration in MPASD patients.

Methods

MPASD patients and healthy volunteers were recruited by the Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale (MPATS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Saliva samples were collected every 4 h for 72 h. After saliva sampling, six MPDSD subjects (group M) were acupuncturally treated (group T), and subsequent saliva sampling was conducted posttreatment. Finally, all the samples were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analysis.

Results

Significantly increased MPATS and PSQI scores were observed in MPDSD patients (p< 0.01), but these scores decreased (p<0.001) after acupuncture intervention. Compared with those in healthy controls, the diversity and structure of the saliva microbiota in MPASD patients were markedly disrupted. Six genera with circadian rhythms were detected in all groups, including Sulfurovum, Peptostreptococcus, Porphyromonas and Prevotella. There were five genera with circadian rhythmicity in healthy people, of which the rhythmicities of the genera Rothia and Lautropia disappeared in MPASD patients but effectively resumed after acupuncture intervention.

Conclusions

This work revealed dysrhythmic salivary microbes in MPASD patients, and acupuncture, as a potential intervention, could be effective in mitigating this ever-rising behavioral epidemic.

The Relationship Between Harsh Parenting and Smartphone Addiction Among Adolescents: Serial Mediating Role of Depression and Social Pain

Purpose

With the increasing prevalence of smart phones, adolescent smartphone addiction has garnered significant attention from researchers. Previous studies have revealed that smartphone addiction is associated with various internalization and externalization problems. Therefore, this present study aims to investigate the risk factors contributing to adolescent smartphone addiction.

Methods

Study 1 recruited a sample of 540, 690, and 470 Chinese students aged between 10-17 years for exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and predictive validity analysis of the social pain scale. Study 2 utilized data from a sample of 718 Chinese students aged between 10-17 years to examine the measurement model used revised social pain scale, smartphone addiction scale, harsh parenting scale, and depression sub-scale.

Results

The present study revealed that (1)The Social Pain Scale had good applicability in Chinese adolescents; (2) There were significant, positive correlations among harsh parenting, smartphone addiction, depression and social pain; (3) Social pain and depression played a partially serial mediating role in the relationship between harsh parenting and smartphone addiction, and similarly the relationship between paternal harsh parenting and smartphone addiction, while a completely serial mediating role in the relationship between maternal harsh parenting and smartphone addiction.

Conclusion

This study provides a direct path (improving parenting style) and an indirect path (reducing social pain to reduce depression) regarding interventions for adolescents with smartphone addiction, and establishes a basis for improving the situation of adolescent smartphone addiction.

The impact of problematic mobile phone use and the number of close friends on depression and anxiety symptoms among college students

Background

Psychological problems often occur in college students, with the most common ones being depression and anxiety symptoms. Exploring the risk factors that influence depression and anxiety symptoms in college students is essential to promote their physical and mental health.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the independent and interaction effects of problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) and the number of close friends (NCFs) on depression and anxiety symptoms and the comorbidity of these symptoms among college students.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Huainan, Anhui Province, and Suzhou, Jiangsu Province in China from October to December 2022. Data from 7,617 college students were collected. The Patient Health Questionnaire and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 were used to evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms. The PMPU data were collected by the Mobile Phone Addiction Type Scale. Multinomial logistic regression models were performed to examine the associations of PMPU and NCFs with depression and anxiety symptoms and their interaction effects.

Results

PMPU and lack of close friends significantly increased the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms and the comorbidity of these symptoms in college students (p < 0.001). In addition, the effects of PMPU and lack of close friends on depression and anxiety symptoms in college students were interactive (p < 0.001). No significant sex differences were found.

Conclusion

PMPU and lack of close friends are important risk factors for depression, anxiety, and the comorbidity of these symptoms in college students in China.

Longitudinal associations between cyber victimization and problematic mobile phone use in adolescents: Disentangling between-person effects from within-person effects

BACKGROUND

Being the target of cyber victimization has been shown to be connected with several forms of maladjustment among adolescents. However, there is not a clear understanding of the impact of cyber victimization on Problematic Mobile Phone Use (PMPU) and the potential mechanism underlying the association. The present study tested the longitudinal association between cyber victimization and adolescents' PMPU as well as the mediating role of sleep problems in this association.

METHODS

A sample of 1835 Chinese adolescents (55.9 % boys; M_age = 12.34) completed self-report questionnaires regarding cyber victimization, sleep problems and PMPU at four time points, using 6-month intervals. Gender, age and socioeconomic status were controlled for in the analyses. We tested cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs) and random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) to separate between- and within-person effects, allowing a robust and rigorous test of relationships among variables.

RESULTS

As hypothesized, at the within-person level, cyber victimization was a predictive risk factor of later PMPU among adolescents, and sleep problems served as an explanatory mechanism by which cyber victimization predicted adolescents' PMPU over time.

CONCLUSION

These findings contribute to identifying adolescents at risk for engaging in PMPU, as well as the prevention and intervention.

A Longitudinal Study of Insomnia, Daytime Sleepiness, and Academic Performance in Chinese Adolescents

BACKGROUND

Longitudinal data on the associations between sleep disturbances, daytime sleepiness, and daily functioning are limited in the general adolescent population. This study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and subject-specific academic performance in a large sample of Chinese adolescents.

METHOD

Data were derived from the Shandong Adolescent Behavior and Health Cohort (n = 7,072) study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess insomnia, EDS, academic performance (overall, Chinese, mathematics, and English), behavioral and emotional problems, and family demographics. The cross-sectional analysis was conducted with baseline data while the longitudinal analysis was conducted with both baseline and 1-year follow-up data. Logistic regression analyses and mediation models were performed to examine the associations between insomnia, EDS, and academic performance.

RESULTS

Logistic regression analyses revealed that insomnia and EDS had significant cross-sectional associations with overall performance and mathematics performance after controlling for age, gender, ever smoking, ever alcohol drinking, frequent snore, sleep duration, chronic disease, anxious/depressive symptoms, parents' education, parents' occupation, and family economic status. Both insomnia (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.00-1.45) and EDS (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03-1.45) at baseline were significantly associated with poor mathematics performance 1 year later. The effect of insomnia at baseline on poor academic performance 1 year later was mediated by EDS except for the Chinese subject after controlling for the covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Insomnia and daytime sleepiness are significantly associated with poor academic performance, particularly in mathematics. EDS mediates the association between insomnia and poor academic performance. Further research is warranted to investigate the effects of sleep disturbance and daytime sleepiness on the learning process and performance across academic subjects.

School and non-school day screen time profiles and their differences in health and educational indicators in adolescents

Sedentary behavior and screen-based devices in particular have been negatively associated with a wide range of health and educational indicators. However, few have examined these relationships separately for school days and non-school days, and none have used a person-centered approach. This study aimed to identify school and non-school day screen time profiles, as well as examine possible differences in health indicators (physical fitness, fatness, physical activity, sleep duration, and Mediterranean diet) and academic performance. This study involved the participation of 1573 Spanish adolescents aged 12-16 years (54.73% girls). Academic performance was measured through grades in Mathematics, Language, English, and Physical Education. Physical fitness was measured through a battery of tests (cardiorespiratory fitness was measured using the 20 m shuttle run test, and muscular strength with both handgrip and standing long jump tests), while fatness (skinfold thicknesses) was assessed with calipers. Finally, physical activity, screen time, sleep duration, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were measured using self-reported questionnaires. Hierarchical cluster analyses based on square Euclidian distances and Ward's method were performed based on daily minutes of screen time recorded on school and non-school days. We identified four clusters labeled and described as: (1) "High-high": highest screen time on school and non-school days; (2) "High-low": high screen time on school days and low screen time on non-school days; (3) "Low-high": low screen time on school days and high screen time on non-school days; (4) "Low-low": lowest screen time on school and non-school days. Adolescents who belonged to the "High-high" profile had worse health-related behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sleep duration, and adherence to Mediterranean diet) and academic performance than most other profiles, while adolescents who belonged to "Low-low" profile showed the opposite pattern. Adolescents in the "Low-high" profile had a higher sleep duration on school days and better academic performance than those in the "High-low" profile. No differences in body fat, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscular strength were found between the four different profiles. The results suggest that adolescents who accumulated a large amount of screen time on school and non-school days reported worse health-related behaviors and academic performance. Moreover, adolescents who had high screen time on school days reported only a short sleep duration on school days and worse academic performance than on non-school days. Conducting interventions to reduce screen time in these four profiles, particularly in the groups of students with more screen time on school days, becomes essential to improving adolescents' healthy lifestyles and academic performance.

Longitudinal associations of the duration of mobile phone use with suicidal behavior in adolescents: The mediating role of depressive symptoms

BACKGROUND

Prolonged mobile phone use has been demonstrated to be associated with mental health problems and suicidal behavior in adolescents. This study examined the mediating role of depressive symptoms in the association between duration of mobile phone use (DMPU) and suicidal behavior in adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 6,923 participants from the Shandong Adolescent Behavior & Health Cohort (SABHC) were included in the analysis. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire to assess DMPU on weekdays and weekends, mental disorders, insomnia symptoms, depressive symptoms, suicidal behavior (thought, plan, or attempt), and family demographics in November-December 2015. One year later, a follow-up survey was conducted to ask participants to report their depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior. Path analyses with logistic regressions were performed to examine the mediating role of depressive symptoms in the DMPU-suicidal behavior link.

RESULTS

Of the sample, mean age was 14.58 (SD = 1.45) and 3,455 (49.9 %) were female at baseline. 12.12 % of participants reported having ever suicidal behavior during the past 12 months at baseline, and 10.63 % reported having ever suicidal behavior during 1-year follow-up. Path analyses showed that the depressive symptoms played a partial mediating role in the association of DMPU on weekdays and weekends with subsequent suicidal behavior. After controlling for covariates, depressive symptoms accounted for 33.6 % and 58.6 % of the total effect of DMPU on weekdays and weekends on suicidal behavior, respectively.

LIMITATION

All variables were measured based on self-report.

CONCLUSIONS

The link between DMPU and suicidal behavior was partially mediated by depressive symptoms. Prolonged mobile phone use and depressive symptoms should be assessed and intervened to prevent suicidal behavior in adolescents.

The relationship between perceived classroom climate and academic performance among English-major teacher education students in Guangxi, China: The mediating role of student engagement

The academic performance of teacher education students predicts their future career development and it is also a significant factor related to their future students' academic performance. However, little is known about the associations between perceived classroom climate, student engagement and academic performance, especially for English-major teacher education students. This study was to examine English-major teacher education students' academic performance in relation to perceived classroom climate, student engagement. The questionnaire consisted of the Emotional Classroom Climate Scale, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale - Student Form-3 Item (UWES-SF-3), and the 5-item Academic Performance Scale. This study investigated 307 English-major teacher education students in Guangxi, China. Among them, 280 (91.2%) were females, and 27 (8.8%) were males, aged between 18 and 24 (M = 20.34, SD = 1.26). Results indicated that perceived classroom climate was positively associated with student engagement and academic performance among English-major teacher education students; their student engagement was positively associated with their academic performance, and student engagement partially mediated the relationship between perceived classroom climate and academic performance. The findings supported the motivational process of study demands-resources (SD-R) model and revealed that perceived classroom climate and student engagement were significant factors linked to academic performance, and practical suggestions were discussed.

How Does Shyness Affect Chinese College Students' Tendency to Mobile Phone Addiction? Testing the Mediating Roles of Social Anxiety and Self-Control

Background and Aims

Mobile phone addiction among college students has gained considerable research attention because of its adverse effects on their health and academic performance. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the relationship between shyness and mobile phone addiction among college students.

Methods

Four questionnaires were used to examine whether mobile phone addiction tendency was predicted by shyness and the mediating roles of social anxiety and self-control among 3,189 Chinese college students. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted using Hayes PROCESS.

Results

The results showed that (1) social anxiety (indirect effect = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.18–0.26) and self-control (indirect effect = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.21–0.25) played a partial mediating role in the relationship between shyness and mobile phone addiction tendency; (2) social anxiety and self-control also mediated the link between shyness and mobile phone addiction tendency sequentially (indirect effect = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.09 to 0.12).

Conclusion

These results suggest that mobile phone addiction among shy college students could be eliminated by alleviating social anxiety and strengthening self-control.

Parent-child relationship and smartphone addiction among Chinese adolescents: A longitudinal moderated mediation model

Using a three-wave longitudinal design, we examined the relationship between early parent-child relationship and subsequent smartphone addiction (SA) and explored mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relation. A total of 527 Chinese adolescents (271 boys and 256 girls, mean age = 11.23 years) completed questionnaires regarding parent-child relationship, smartphone addiction, hope and life satisfaction. The results showed that: (1) parent-child relationship (T1) was positively associated with life satisfaction (T1) and hope (T2); parent-child relationship (T1), life satisfaction (T1), and hope (T2) were significantly negatively associated with SA (T3); (2) After controlling for age, gender, and SA (T1), hope (T2) completely mediated the relationship between parental-child relationship (T1) and adolescents' SA (T3); (3) life satisfaction (T1) moderated the association between parent-child relationship (T1) and hope (T2). Specifically, as life satisfaction (T1) increased, parent-child relationship (T1) was more likely to promote hope (T2). Moreover, the indirect negative links between parent-child relationship (T1) and SA (T3) via hope (T2) were stronger for adolescents with high level of life satisfaction (T1) than for adolescents with low level of life satisfaction (T1). The results reveal the mechanism of hope and life satisfaction in the effect of parent-child relationship on SA in adolescents, indicating that SA among adolescents can be weakened through the improvement of parent-child relationship, the rise in hope and the increase in life satisfaction.

Screen Media Overuse and Associated Physical, Cognitive, and Emotional/Behavioral Outcomes in Children and Adolescents: An Integrative Review

INTRODUCTION

Screen media overuse is seen as a public health concern because of its negative effects on child and adolescent health. This integrative literature review examines recent empirical evidence on the relationship between screen media overuse and physical, cognitive, and emotional/behavioral outcomes in children and adolescents.

METHODS

Empirical research of experimental design, observational studies, and systematic reviews from several data sources was reviewed and synthesized to form the basis of this integrative review.

RESULTS

Screen media overuse is associated with poor sleep quality, shorter sleep duration, greater likelihood for overweight/obesity, lower executive functioning, poorer academic performance, and increased internalizing and externalizing problems. Bidirectional associations may exist.

DISCUSSION

Findings support the importance of understanding the impact of screen media use on health and wellbeing. Generating screen time guidelines and developing effective prevention/intervention strategies are critical to mitigating screen media overuse and its adverse outcomes in children and families.

Exploring Deeper Causes Linking Adolescents' Mental Disorders to Mobile Phone Use Problems: Grounded Theory Approach

BACKGROUND

Evidence from a variety of studies link mobile phone use with an increase in mental health problems, with the situation being particularly prevalent in China and exacerbated by the COVID-19 quarantine.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to reveal underlying connections between mobile phone use and mental disorders of adolescents, and to develop a theory to help parents and counseling psychologists better understand and intervene in future cases.

METHODS

A total of 37 teenagers having both mental health and mobile phone use problems, along with their parents, were included for individual interviews. These interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using qualitative methods of grounded theory.

RESULTS

The grades-ranking-first mentality is one of the main factors causing problems such as defective family bonding and peer influences, pushing teenagers with mental disorders to seek comfort in the virtual world through their cellphones.

CONCLUSIONS

The idea proposed in this study is not only inspiring for psychological counseling and therapy on adolescents with mental problems but also beneficial for school educators and parents to better understand the adolescents. The findings of the study are also particularly noteworthy in the postpandemic age, where parents whose work locations and schedules are substantially affected due to any emergencies should try to build a relaxing and cozy atmosphere at home to avoid possible conflicts with adolescents.

Perceived Academic Stress and Depression: The Mediation Role of Mobile Phone Addiction and Sleep Quality

BACKGROUND

Although academic stress is a well-known risk factor for students' depression, little is known about the possible psychological mechanisms underlying this association. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of depression and sleep disturbance among Chinese students, examined the relationship between perceived academic stress and depression, considered if mobile phone addiction and sleep quality is a mediator of this relationship, and tested if mobile phone addiction and sleep quality together play a serial mediating role in the influence of perceived academic stress on depression.

METHOD

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among students from September to December 2018 in Heilongjiang Province, China. The final analysis included 5,109 students. Mobile phone addiction, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Mobile Phone Addiction Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scales, respectively. The serial mediation model was used to analyse the relationship between perceived academic stress, mobile phone addiction, sleep quality, and depression.

RESULTS

Among all participants, the prevalence of depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance was 28.69 and 27.95%, respectively. High school students showed the highest scores of perceived academic stress (2.68 ± 1.06), and the highest prevalence of depressive symptoms (33.14%) and sleep disturbance (36.47%). The serial mediation model indicated that perceived academic stress was a significant predictor of depression (B = 0.10, SE = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.06 - 0.13). Additionally, mobile phone addiction (B = 0.08, 95% boot CI = 0.06-0.11) and sleep quality (B = 0.27, 95% boot CI = 0.22-0.33) played a mediating role between perceived academic stress and depression. Mobile phone addiction and sleep quality together played a serial mediating role in the influence of perceived academic stress on depression (B = 0.11, 95% boot CI = 0.08-0.14). Furthermore, the indirect effect (i.e., the mediating effect of mobile phone addiction and sleep quality) was significant and accounted for 64.01% of the total effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research results underscore the need for stakeholders-including family members, educators, and policy makers-to take preventative intervention measures to address depression among Chinese students, especially high school students.

NURSING STUDENTS’ LIFESTYLE AND RELATED FACTORS

ABSTRACT Objective: to determine nursing students’ lifestyle at a university in Mexico, according to personal factors and previous behaviors of Nola J. Pender’s Health Promotion Model. Method: this is a cross-sectional study developed at a public university of Minatitlán, Veracruz, Mexico, in 2019, with nursing students enrolled in the curricular internship course, totaling 130. Data were collected that include sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle and behavior characteristics through the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile I. We used Student’s t-tests, ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation for the analyses. Results: of the 130 participants, 92 (70.8%) were classified as healthy lifestyle and 38 (29.2%) had a moderately healthy lifestyle. Among the scale domains, the physical activity domain was the one with the lowest score. Negative correlations were found between the self-actualization domain and clinical variables, such as blood pressure, Body Mass Index and waist circumference, and also between this domain and the time of cell phone and television use. Conclusion: the lifestyle general classification of most participants was healthy, but the analyzes of the individual domains demonstrate the need for political and clinical interventions that influence nursing students’ health-promoting behaviors.

ESTILO DE VIDA DE ESTUDANTES DE ENFERMAGEM E FATORES RELACIONADOS

RESUMO Objetivo: determinar o estilo de vida de estudantes de enfermagem de uma Universidade no México, segundo fatores pessoais e comportamentos anteriores do Modelo de Promoção da Saúde de Nola J. Pender. Método: estudo transversal desenvolvido em uma Universidade Pública de Minatitlán, Veracruz, México, no ano 2019, com os estudantes de enfermagem matriculados na disciplina de estágio curricular, totalizando 130. Coletaram-se dados que incluem características sociodemográficas, clínicas e de estilo de vida e comportamento por meio da Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile I. Utilizaram-se os testes T de Student, Anova e correlação de Pearson para as análises. Resultados: dos 130 participantes, 92 (70,8%) foram classificados com estilo de vida saudável e 38 (29,2%) obtiveram estilo de vida moderadamente saudável. Entre os domínios da escala, o de exercício foi o de menor pontuação. Constataram-se correlações negativas entre o domínio autorrealização e variáveis clínicas, tais como pressão arterial, índice de massa corpórea e circunferência abdominal, e também entre esse domínio e o tempo de uso de celular e televisão. Conclusão: a classificação geral do estilo de vida da maioria dos participantes foi saudável, todavia as análises dos domínios individuais demonstram a necessidade de intervenções políticas e clínicas que influenciem os comportamentos promotores de saúde dos estudantes de enfermagem.

A Systematic Review of Prevention and Intervention Strategies for Smartphone Addiction in Students: Applicability During the COVID-19 Pandemic

"During this coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, smartphones play an important role in online classes, study, and entertainment. However, excessive use may lead to smartphone addiction (SPA). The incidence of SPA among students has increased with the spread of COVID-19 and threatens to impair home-based students’ learning efficiency and physical and mental health. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest achievements in SPA prevention and treatment, and a theoretical basis for future experimental research and clinical treatment, while considering their applicability during the current pandemic. We researched the core literature in Chinese, English, and Korean databases from 2000 to 2021; 3208 articles were identified. After reading the titles, abstracts, and full texts, 53 articles were selected. Research on SPA interventions was relatively limited; we identified six types of prevention and treatment measures: psychotherapies, cognitive training, behavioral intervention, application restriction, social intervention, and complementary and alternative medicine. They can be implemented by students, parents, or online experts. Future research should focus on developing early measures to identify and prevent SPA and enhance students’ change motivation."

Design, Validity and Effect of an Intra-Curricular Program for Facilitating Self-Regulation of Learning Competences in University Students with the Support of the 4Planning App

Background: Smartphone applications have the potential to support university students for the benefit of learning in higher education. Objective: To design and evaluate the effect of an intra-curricular program using a mobile application on self-regulated learning strategies in university students. Method: The 4Planning mobile application was designed following a systematic literature review, expert judgement and application. The instrument to assess the effect of the intervention was the SRL Readiness Practices Scale, with a one-factor structure (CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.97; RMSEA = 0.05) with reliability of α = 0.89. The design was quasi-experimental with pre- and post-test measures and experimental and control groups. The sample consisted of 473 first-year university students (37.02% male) from seven Chilean universities with a mean age of 19.35 (SD = 2.49). Statistical analysis was an ANOVA performed in R software version 4.0.3. Results: Statistically significant differences were identified in the levels of self-regulated learning between the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The development of the 4Planning app proved to be effective in promoting the development of self-regulated learning strategies in university students.

Personal Profiles, Family Environment, Patterns of Smartphone Use, Nomophobia, and Smartphone Addiction across Low, Average, and High Perceived Academic Performance Levels among High School Students in the Philippines

(1) Background: Problematic smartphone use in adolescents has become a major concern among parents and educators. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with, and the predictors of, low, average, and high perceived academic performance (PAP). (2) Methods: Descriptive and comparative analyses were employed in this cross-sectional study among 3374 Filipino high school students through an online Google forms survey. (3) Results: We found that age, grade level, father's education, time spent daily on weekends, frequency of use on weekdays, purpose of use, nomophobia (NMP), and smartphone addiction (SA) were significantly associated with low PAP, while frequency of use on weekends and type of internet access had a significant association with high PAP. Gender was a significant predictor of low, average, and high PAP. Father's education and SA were also significant predictors for both low and average PAP. (4) Conclusions: This study shows the significant association between personal profiles, family environment, patterns of smartphone use, NMP, and SA contributing to a significant impact on Filipino high school students' PAP. This suggests that proper guidelines for smartphone use should be provided at home and in school settings to raise awareness of the adverse effects of SA on students' academic performance.

Problematic Smartphone and Social Media Use Among Bangladeshi College and University Students Amid COVID-19: The Role of Psychological Well-Being and Pandemic Related Factors

Background: Smartphone and social media use are an integral part of our daily life. Currently, the impact of excessive smartphone and social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic is poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate problematic smartphone use (PSPU) and problematic social media use (PSMU) among Bangladeshi college and university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 5,511 Bangladeshi college and university students (male: 58.9%; mean age: 21.2 years [SD = 1.7]; age range: 18-25) during the social-distancing in the COVID-19 pandemic (July 2020). A self-reported survey containing questions regarding socio-demographic, lifestyle, and home quarantine activities along with four psychometric scales was completed by participants. Results: The mean scores of PSPU and PSMU were 20.8 ± 6.8 (out of 36) and 14.7 ± 4.8 (out of 30). Based on a hierarchical regression analysis, PSPU and PSMU were positively associated with lower age, poor sleep, social media use, watching television, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, PSMU was linked to being female, living with nuclear family, having urban residence, irregular physical exercise, poor engagement with academic studies, and avoiding earning activities, whilst being male, being married, living with lower-income family, and alcohol consumption were linked to PSMU. Conclusions: The findings indicate that PSPU and PSMU were linked to poor psychological well-being (i.e., anxiety and depression) and other factors (especially lower age, poor sleep) during the pandemic, further suggesting the need for interventions including virtual awareness programs among college and university students.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of nightmare distress questionnaire (NDQ-CV) in adolescents

BACKGROUND

The Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ) is the most common scale used to measure nightmare distress for its satisfactory psychometric properties. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of NDQ (NDQ-CV) in a large sample of adolescents.

METHODS

The NDQ-CV consists of 14 items (12 original NDQ items, 1 modified NDQ item and 1 new item) to assess waking distress associated with nightmares. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale from 1 = Never to 5 = Always. Subjects used for psychometric assessment of the NDQ-CV were 11,831 participants of the Shandong Adolescent Behavior and Health Cohort in China. Participants completed the NDQ-CV and a structured questionnaire to assess nightmare frequency, sleep, anxiety/depression, and academic performance.

RESULTS

The NDQ-CV score ranged from 14 to 70 (M = 22.5, SD = 8.7). Internal consistency reliability coefficient was 0.90. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded 2 dominant factors defined as nightmare general distress (10 items) and daytime reality perception (4 items). The NDQ-CV score was significantly correlated with short nocturnal sleep duration, anxiety/depression, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and poor academic performance. Furthermore, NDQ-CV significantly predicted depressive symptoms 1 year later.

STUDY LIMITATIONS

All data were self-reported.

CONCLUSIONS

The NDQ-CV appears to be a simple, reliable, and valid scale for assessing nightmare distresses in Chinese adolescents. Further studies are warranted to test the reliability and validity of the NDQ-CV with adult samples.

Digital media use and subsequent self-harm during a 1-year follow-up of Chinese adolescents

BACKGROUND

Excessive digital media use is prevalent and has a negative impact on sleep, daytime functioning, and mental health in adolescents. We examined the prospective associations between digital media use and subsequent suicidal and non-suicidal self-harm.

METHODS

Shandong Adolescent Behavior & Health Cohort (SABHC) is a longitudinal study of adolescent behavior and health in Shandong, China. Participants included for the analysis were 7,072 SABHC adolescents who were initially assessed in 2015 and were reassessed in 2016. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to measure digital media use (i.e., television watching, internet use, and mobile phone use) on weekdays and at the weekend, mental health, and self-harm.

RESULTS

Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that daily internet use ≥2 h on weekdays (odd ratio (OR) = 1.86, 95% confidence interval(CI) = 1.25-2.76) and ≥3 h at the weekend (OR = 1.46, 95%CI = 1.06-2.00) and daily mobile phone use 2-3 h (OR = 1.46, 95%CI = 1.02-2.10) and ≥4 h (OR = 1.74, 95%CI = 1.20-2.51) at the weekend were significantly associated with increased risk of recurrent self-harm. Daily internet use ≥ 2 h on weekdays (OR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.20-2.74) and ≥3 h at the weekend (OR = 1.55, 95%CI = 1.12-2.15), daily mobile phone use 1-2 h on weekdays (OR = 1.47, 95%CI = 1.02-2.12) and 2-3 h (OR = 1.49, 95%CI = 1.01-2.19) and ≥4 h (OR = 1.93, 95%CI = 1.31-2.85) at the weekend were significantly associated with increased risk of recurrent non-suicidal self-injury. Daily internet use 1-2 h on weekdays and 2-3 h at the weekend were significantly associated with increased risk of new suicide attempt (OR =  1.80, 95%CI =  1.07- 3.03) and recurrent suicide attempt (OR =  6.26, 95%CI = 1.31-29.88), respectively.

LIMITATIONS

All data were self-reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Excessive use of internet or mobile phone appears to be a significant risk factor of self-harm, suggesting that limiting adolescent use of internet and mobile phone may be beneficial to reduce risk of self-harm.