Zhang Quan, Li Cong, Liu Jianxin
Pai Chai University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.
Front Psychol. 2025 Aug 19;16:1666004. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1666004. eCollection 2025.
The study examined how mobile phone dependency (MPD) is linked to adolescents' engagement in structured exercise and whether this association operates through three theoretically derived mechanisms-self-control (SC), time management (TM), and health awareness (HA). A complementary configurational analysis explored alternative combinations of these factors that lead to high or low exercise participation.
A cross-sectional survey was administered to 1,404 Chinese students in Grades 5-9 (49.6% girls; 51% rural). Standardized scales assessed MPD, SC, TM, HA, and adolescent exercise participation (AEP). Covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) estimated direct and mediated effects; bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals tested indirect paths. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) identified sufficient configurations of conditions for high and non-high AEP and assessed robustness across calibration thresholds.
The SEM model exhibited excellent fit ( /df = 2.723, CFI = 0.979, TLI = 0.975, SRMR = 0.036, RMSEA = 0.035, 90% CI [0.031, 0.039]). MPD showed a significant total effect on AEP ( = -0.61, < 0.001), of which 83.5% was transmitted through the three hypothesized mediators. Among single mediators, HA accounted for the largest share of the indirect effect ( = -0.15), followed by SC ( = -0.12) and TM ( = -0.03). Three two-step and one three-step chained paths were also significant ( < 0.01). FsQCA revealed three sufficient configurations for high AEP: (a) low MPD + high SC + high HA, (b) low MPD + high TM + high HA, and (c) high SC + high TM + high HA irrespective of MPD. One configuration-high MPD combined with low SC, TM, and HA-was sufficient for non-high AEP. All solutions were robust to parameter changes.
Mobile phone dependency undermines adolescent exercise primarily by eroding self-regulatory capacity, disrupting time structure, and diminishing health motivation. Nonetheless, strong personal resources can offset the risks of heavy phone use. Interventions should therefore adopt a dual focus: curbing excessive smartphone use while simultaneously enhancing self-control, time-management skills, and health awareness to sustain youths' exercise involvement.
本研究探讨了手机依赖（MPD）与青少年参与有组织体育锻炼之间的联系，以及这种关联是否通过三种理论推导机制——自我控制（SC）、时间管理（TM）和健康意识（HA）起作用。一项补充性的组态分析探索了这些因素导致高或低体育锻炼参与度的替代组合。
对1404名五至九年级的中国学生（49.6%为女生；51%来自农村）进行了横断面调查。使用标准化量表评估MPD、SC、TM、HA和青少年体育锻炼参与度（AEP）。基于协方差的结构方程模型（CB-SEM）估计直接和中介效应；偏差校正的Bootstrap置信区间检验间接路径。模糊集定性比较分析（fsQCA）确定了高AEP和非高AEP的条件充分组态，并评估了校准阈值下的稳健性。
SEM模型显示出良好的拟合度（χ²/df = 2.723，CFI = 0.979，TLI = 0.975，SRMR = 0.036，RMSEA = 0.035，90%CI [0.031, 0.039]）。MPD对AEP有显著的总效应（β = -0.61，p < 0.001），其中83.5%通过三个假设的中介变量传递。在单一中介变量中，HA占间接效应的最大份额（β = -0.15），其次是SC（β = -0.12）和TM（β = -0.03）。三条两步和一条三步链式路径也具有显著性（p < 0.01）。FsQCA揭示了高AEP的三种充分组态：（a）低MPD + 高SC + 高HA，（b）低MPD + 高TM + 高HA，以及（c）无论MPD如何，高SC + 高TM + 高HA。一种组态——高MPD与低SC、TM和HA相结合——足以导致非高AEP。所有解决方案对参数变化都具有稳健性。
手机依赖主要通过削弱自我调节能力、扰乱时间结构和降低健康动机来破坏青少年的体育锻炼。尽管如此，强大的个人资源可以抵消大量使用手机的风险。因此，干预措施应采取双重重点：抑制过度使用智能手机，同时增强自我控制、时间管理技能和健康意识，以维持青少年的体育锻炼参与度。
