Work

Adolescent mobile phone addiction and psychological distress in Chinese adolescents: Chain mediation by self-control and academic procrastination and the moderating role of family functioning

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Although previous studies have demonstrated that mobile phone addiction is associated with psychological distress among adolescents, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to explore the chain mediating roles of self-control and academic procrastination in the association between mobile phone addiction and psychological distress. Additionally, the moderating role of family functioning in this process was examined. METHODS: A structured questionnaire survey was conducted among 802 middle school students from various regions in China. Participants completed self-report measures assessing mobile phone addiction, psychological distress, self-control, academic procrastination, and family functioning. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were performed using Amos 29 to test the hypothesized relationships. Robustness was examined via an alternative-direction robustness check reversing the path between self-control and mobile-phone addiction. RESULTS: Mobile phone addiction was significantly and positively associated with psychological distress. A sequential indirect association via self-control and academic procrastination was also statistically significant, such that higher levels of mobile phone addiction were associated with lower self-control, which in turn was associated with greater academic procrastination and, sequentially, with higher psychological distress. In addition, family functioning significantly moderated the association between mobile phone addiction and academic procrastination, such that higher levels of family functioning attenuated this association. Robustness was examined via an alternative-direction robustness check reversing the path between self-control and mobile-phone addiction. CONCLUSION: This study provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how mobile phone addiction contributes to psychological distress in adolescents. By identifying self-control and academic procrastination as key mediating mechanisms, and family functioning as a protective moderator, the findings offer practical implications for designing targeted interventions to promote adolescent mental well-being.

Source: Acta Psychologica

DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105824

Authors: JingYi Lu, PengFei Yue, Biyun Zhang, Yu Sun

Institutions: Management and Science University, Hubei Normal University, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Wuchang Shouyi University

Language: English

Topic: Impact of Technology on Adolescents

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,670