The impact of physical exercise on adolescents’ mobile phone dependency: the serial mediating role of self-esteem and depression
ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to examine the impact of physical exercise on the prevalence of mobile phone dependency among middle school students, as well as to delineate the serial mediating roles of self-esteem and depression within this relationship.MethodsA convenient cluster random s...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1471657/full |
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| author | Jingtao Wu Yanhong Shao Wanli Zang |
| author_facet | Jingtao Wu Yanhong Shao Wanli Zang |
| author_sort | Jingtao Wu |
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| description | ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to examine the impact of physical exercise on the prevalence of mobile phone dependency among middle school students, as well as to delineate the serial mediating roles of self-esteem and depression within this relationship.MethodsA convenient cluster random sampling method was employed to conduct a questionnaire survey among 3,786 middle school students from Guangdong, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Henan, and other provinces. Measurements were taken using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the Self-esteem Scale, the Depression Scale, and the Mobile Phone Dependency Scale.ResultsPhysical exercise was significantly negatively correlated with mobile phone dependency (r = −0.400, p < 0.001) and depression (r = −0.400, p < 0.001), and positively correlated with self-esteem (r = 0.257, p < 0.001). Mobile phone dependency was significantly positively correlated with depression (r = 0.540, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with self-esteem (r = −0.129, p < 0.001). Depression was negatively correlated with self-esteem (r = −0.396, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that self-esteem and depression significantly mediated the relationship between physical exercise and mobile phone dependency, with a total indirect effect of −0.116 (95% CI = [−0.239, −0.140]), accounting for 100% of the total effect. Specifically, the indirect effect through “physical exercise influencing depression, which then affects mobile phone dependency” was −0.076 (95% CI = [−0.224, −0.128]), accounting for 65.52% of the total effect; the indirect effect through “physical exercise influencing self-esteem, which then influences depression, and in turn affects mobile phone dependency” was −0.040 (95% CI = [−0.063, −0.027]), accounting for 34.48%; the indirect effect through “physical exercise influencing self-esteem, which then affects mobile phone dependency” was not significant (95% CI included 0).ConclusionPhysical exercise can directly reduce the dependency of middle school students on mobile phones, and it can also indirectly reduce mobile phone dependency by enhancing self-esteem and reducing levels of depression. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aec41fb169ac4a72ba5f1479a8682acf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-aec41fb169ac4a72ba5f1479a8682acf2025-02-10T06:48:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-02-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14716571471657The impact of physical exercise on adolescents’ mobile phone dependency: the serial mediating role of self-esteem and depressionJingtao Wu0Yanhong Shao1Wanli Zang2School of Physical Education, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, ChinaXiangshui Teacher Development Center, Yancheng, ChinaPostgraduate School, Harbin Sport University, Harbin, ChinaObjectiveThe objective of this study is to examine the impact of physical exercise on the prevalence of mobile phone dependency among middle school students, as well as to delineate the serial mediating roles of self-esteem and depression within this relationship.MethodsA convenient cluster random sampling method was employed to conduct a questionnaire survey among 3,786 middle school students from Guangdong, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Henan, and other provinces. Measurements were taken using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the Self-esteem Scale, the Depression Scale, and the Mobile Phone Dependency Scale.ResultsPhysical exercise was significantly negatively correlated with mobile phone dependency (r = −0.400, p < 0.001) and depression (r = −0.400, p < 0.001), and positively correlated with self-esteem (r = 0.257, p < 0.001). Mobile phone dependency was significantly positively correlated with depression (r = 0.540, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with self-esteem (r = −0.129, p < 0.001). Depression was negatively correlated with self-esteem (r = −0.396, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that self-esteem and depression significantly mediated the relationship between physical exercise and mobile phone dependency, with a total indirect effect of −0.116 (95% CI = [−0.239, −0.140]), accounting for 100% of the total effect. Specifically, the indirect effect through “physical exercise influencing depression, which then affects mobile phone dependency” was −0.076 (95% CI = [−0.224, −0.128]), accounting for 65.52% of the total effect; the indirect effect through “physical exercise influencing self-esteem, which then influences depression, and in turn affects mobile phone dependency” was −0.040 (95% CI = [−0.063, −0.027]), accounting for 34.48%; the indirect effect through “physical exercise influencing self-esteem, which then affects mobile phone dependency” was not significant (95% CI included 0).ConclusionPhysical exercise can directly reduce the dependency of middle school students on mobile phones, and it can also indirectly reduce mobile phone dependency by enhancing self-esteem and reducing levels of depression.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1471657/fullphysical exercisemobile phone dependencyself-esteemdepressionmiddle school students |
| spellingShingle | Jingtao Wu Yanhong Shao Wanli Zang The impact of physical exercise on adolescents’ mobile phone dependency: the serial mediating role of self-esteem and depression Frontiers in Psychology physical exercise mobile phone dependency self-esteem depression middle school students |
| title | The impact of physical exercise on adolescents’ mobile phone dependency: the serial mediating role of self-esteem and depression |
| title_full | The impact of physical exercise on adolescents’ mobile phone dependency: the serial mediating role of self-esteem and depression |
| title_fullStr | The impact of physical exercise on adolescents’ mobile phone dependency: the serial mediating role of self-esteem and depression |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of physical exercise on adolescents’ mobile phone dependency: the serial mediating role of self-esteem and depression |
| title_short | The impact of physical exercise on adolescents’ mobile phone dependency: the serial mediating role of self-esteem and depression |
| title_sort | impact of physical exercise on adolescents mobile phone dependency the serial mediating role of self esteem and depression |
| topic | physical exercise mobile phone dependency self-esteem depression middle school students |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1471657/full |
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