Impact of Mobile Phone Use on College Students' Self-perceived Health During the Epidemic in China: The Mediating Role of Sleep Quality

Abstract

Objectives: The soaring rate of Internet usage among college and university students during the pandemic became an abuse more than a necessity, turning the mobile phone usage as an addiction. However, the impact of using mobile phones on the perceived health of college students is still a controversial topic. The purpose of this study was to reveal the influencing factors of mobile phone usage on college students' self-perceived health during the pandemic. Methods: This study used data from 230 college students who had participated in the China Comprehensive Social Survey (CGSS) in March 2021. A multiple linear regression model was used to conduct data analysis, considering the influence of multiple independent variables on the dependent variable. The hypothesis testing and predictive analytics were done to validate research hypotheses. Results: The study found that mobile phone usage has a positive impact on college students' self-perception of health. However, this positive impact does not exist in isolation and is significantly mediated by sleep quality. Further analysis of the data of urban and rural college students found that the mobile phone utilization by urban college students has a more significant impact on self-perceived health than by rural college students. Conclusions: In the context of public health emergencies, rational use of mobile phones can effectively alleviate the negative emotions of college students. Therefore, it is imperative that students are guided towards healthy and rational utilization of mobile phones, to reduce potential negative effects and maintain a good mental state.