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. 2025 Apr 7;15(1):11825.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-96476-8.

The chain mediating effect of self-respect and self-control on peer relationship and early adolescent phone dependence

Shuyuan Guo  1 , Jianhua Zhang  2 , Aolun Wang  3 , Tiancheng Zhang  3 , Yang Liu  4 , Shiyuan Zhang  5
Affiliations

The chain mediating effect of self-respect and self-control on peer relationship and early adolescent phone dependence

Shuyuan Guo et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

This paper analyzes the influence of peer relationship on mobile phone dependence of middle school students, and probes into the chain mediating role of Self-respect and self-control. Using multi-stage random stratified cluster sampling method, 2311 middle school students in Wuling Mountain District were selected to explore the relationship between peer relationship and mobile phone dependence, Self-respect and self-control by using peer relationship scale, mobile phone dependence Scale, Self-respect scale and self-control scale. Correlation analysis showed that peer relationship, Peer relationship was positively correlated with Self-respect and self-control (r = 0.399, r = 0.291, P < 0.01), while peer relationship was negatively correlated with mobile phone dependence (r=- 0.227, P < 0.01). Mobile phone dependence was negatively correlated with Self-respect and self-control (r=- 0.409, r=- 0.629, P < 0.01). Self-respect was positively correlated with self-control (r = 0.519, P < 0.01). The structural equation model shows that Self-respect and self-control play a partial mediating role in the relationship between peer relationship and mobile phone dependence, in which the mediating effect size of Self-respect is - 0.098 (effect size 18.63%, 95%CI=- 0.140~- 0.059), and the mediating effect size of self-control is - 0.131 (effect size 24.90%, 95%CI=- 0.188~- 0.073); The chain mediating effect size of Self-respect and self-control was - 0.252 (effect size 47.91%, 95%CI = - 0.293~- 0.434). We should actively intervene the problem of mobile phone dependence of middle school students, improve Self-respect and self-control ability through good peer relationship, effectively improve their health behavior, and promote mental health.

Keywords: Mobile phone dependence; Peer relationship; Self-control; Self-respect.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by the Biomedicine Ethics Committee of Jishou University before the initiation of the project (Grant number: JSDX− 2024 − 0086). And informed consent was obtained from the participants before starting the program. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A hypothesized chain mediation model of Self-respect and self-control between peer relationship and mobile phone dependence.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A chain-mediated model of Self-respect and self-control between peer relationship and mobile phone dependence.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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