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. 2024 May 28:17:2135-2147.
doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S462794. eCollection 2024.

The Effect of Physical Activity on Sleep Quality Among Chinese College Students: The Chain Mediating Role of Stress and Smartphone Addiction During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jinfu Wang #  1 , Xiuxia Liu #  2 , Xue Xu  3 , Haiyun Wang  4 , Guan Yang  1
Affiliations

The Effect of Physical Activity on Sleep Quality Among Chinese College Students: The Chain Mediating Role of Stress and Smartphone Addiction During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jinfu Wang et al. Psychol Res Behav Manag. .

Abstract

Purpose: During the period of COVID-19 pandemic, the social restrictions and isolation exerted a significant impact on the sleep quality of Chinese college students. This study aims to delve into the influence of physical activity on the sleep quality of college students as well as the mediating roles of stress and smartphone addiction.

Materials and methods: A cohort of 274 eligible college students (146 males and 128 females) were selected for the investigation. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form, Stress Perception Scale, Smartphone Addiction Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were employed to assess the levels of physical activity, stress, smartphone addiction, and sleep quality among college students. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and chained mediation effect tests were performed sequentially.

Results: The findings revealed: (1) a significant negative correlation between physical activity and stress, smartphone addiction, and sleep quality among college students (r = -0.216, p < 0.001; r = -0.224, p < 0.001; r = -0.259, p < 0.001); (2) independent mediating roles of stress and smartphone addiction in the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality; and (3) chained mediating effects of stress and smartphone addiction in the association between physical activity and sleep quality.

Conclusion: This study deepens our comprehension of how physical activity augments the quality of slumber, concurrently emphasizing that mitigating stress levels and alleviating smartphone addiction constitute effective strategies for preventing sleep issues among college students.

Keywords: chain mediating effect; college students; physical activity; sleep quality; smartphone addiction; stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hypothesized chain intermediation model.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The final model of this study. **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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