Testing the Bidirectional Associations of Mobile Phone Addiction Behaviors With Mental Distress, Sleep Disturbances, and Sleep Patterns: A One-Year Prospective Study Among Chinese College Students.

Yinzhi Kang,Likai Xie,Wanling Zhang,Lulu Yang,Jihui Zhang,Bin Zhang,Shuai Liu,Lianhong Lin,Bixia Xu

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00634

Abstract

BackgroundMobile phone addiction behaviors (MPAB) are extensively associated with several mental and sleep problems. Only a limited number of bidirectional longitudinal papers have focused on this field. This study aimed to examine the bidirectional associations of MPAB with mental distress, sleep disturbances, and sleep patterns.MethodsA total of 940 and 902 (response rate: 95.9%) students participated at baseline and one-year follow-up, respectively. Self-reported severity of mobile phone addiction was measured using Mobile Phone Involvement Questionnaire (MPIQ). Mental distress was evaluated by using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Sleep disturbances were assessed by using Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Sleep patterns were evaluated by using reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), weekday sleep duration, and weekend sleep duration.ResultsCross-lagged analyses revealed a higher total score of BDI, SAS, and ISI predicted a greater likelihood of subsequent MPAB, but not vice versa. We found the bidirectional longitudinal relationships between MPAB and the total score of PSQI and ESS. Besides, a higher score of MPIQ at baseline predicts a subsequent lower total score of rMEQ and shorter weekday sleep duration.ConclusionsThe current study expands our understanding of causal relationships of MPAB with mental distress, sleep disturbances, and sleep patterns.

Highlights

Mobile phone has become an indispensable tool in people’s daily lives [1]
Cross-lagged analyses revealed a higher total score of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) predicted a greater likelihood of subsequent Mobile phone addiction behaviors (MPAB), but not vice versa
We found the bidirectional longitudinal relationships between MPAB and the total score of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)

Summary

Introduction

Uncontrolled or excessive use of mobile phones has arisen and is extensively associated with several physical and psychological disturbances [2]. MPA, a subset of technological addictions, which is defined as a behavioral addiction that involves human-machine interaction and is non-chemical [8]. It was named problematic mobile phone use, mobile phone dependence and smartphone addiction, but all highlight compulsive use, craving, tolerance, withdrawal, and functional impairment as key characteristics [8, 9]. Mobile phone addiction behaviors (MPAB) are extensively associated with several mental and sleep problems. This study aimed to examine the bidirectional associations of MPAB with mental distress, sleep disturbances, and sleep patterns

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