Association between cell phone dependence and anxiety-depression co-morbid symptoms among college students

Abstract

Objective To describe the prevalence of cell phone dependence and anxiety-depression co-morbidity among college students, and to explore the association between cell phone dependence and anxiety-depression co-morbidity among college students, in order to provide a reference basis for promoting the development of college students’ mental health.

Methods Using a prospective study design, baseline survey was conducted in April-May 2019 among a random whole-group sample of 1 135 individuals in two universities in Hefei, Anhui Province and Shangrao, Jiangxi Province, and a follow-up survey was conducted in November 2019 among the sampled population, with a valid number of 1 110 individuals after matching with the baseline survey. The Self-rating Questionnaire for Adolescent Problematic Mobile Phone Use (SQAPMPU) was used to assess college students’ cell phone dependence, and the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Self-Rating Scale (DASS-21) to assess depression, anxiety, and anxiety-depression co-morbidity symptoms, and the self-administered Health-Related Behavior and Mental Health Questionnaire for College Students to report sleep duration.

Results The detection rates of cell phone dependence among college students at baseline and follow-up surveys were 24.5% and 27.7%, respectively, and the detection rates of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and anxiety-depression co-morbidities were 28.7%, 21.3%, and 18.4%, respectively. The results of the binary Logistic regression model showed that cell phone dependence was positively associated with the risk of anxiety-depression co-morbid symptoms among college students at baseline ( OR = 5.79, 95% CI = 4.06–8.24) and after six months of follow-up ( OR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.86–3.69) ( P<0.01). The results of the moderating effect analysis showed that sleep duration moderated the association between cell phone dependence and anxiety-depression co-morbidities, and the interaction term was statistically significant (β = 0.08, 0.04, P<0.01).

Conclusion Cell phone dependence in college students increases the risk of depressive and anxiety co-morbid symptoms, and sleep mitigates effect of cell phone dependence on depressive and anxiety co-morbid symptoms in college students.

Abstract

【摘要】 目的 描述大学生手机依赖和焦虑抑郁共病症状的流行现况及关联, 为促进大学生心理健康发展提供参考依 据。 方法 于 2019 年 4一5 月在安黴省合肥市和江西省上饶市 2 所高校中随机整群抽样 1 135 名在校大学生进行基线调 查, 2019 年 11 月对抽样人群进行随访调查, 与基线调查匹配后有效人数为 1 110 人。使用青少年手机使用依赖自评问卷 评估大学生手机依赖情况, 使用抑郁-焦虑-压力自评量表评估抑郁、焦虑、焦虑抑郁共病症状, 使用自编大学生健康相关 行为及心理健康问卷报告睡眠时长。 结果 基线与随访调查中大学生手机依赖检出率分别为 24.5% 和 27.7%, 基线调查 中焦虑症状、抑郁症状、焦虑抑郁共病症状的检出率分别为 28.7%, 21.3% 和 18.4%。二元 Logistic 回归模型结果显示, 手机 依赖与大学生基线 ( OR = 5.79, 95% CI = 4.06~8.24) 和随访调查 ( OR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.86~3.69) 焦虑抑郁共病症状风险均呈 正关联 ( P值均<0.01)。调节效应分析结果显示, 睡眠时长在手机依赖与焦虑抑郁共病症状关联间起调节作用, 交互项具 有统计学意义 (β _基线=0.08, β _随访=0.04, P值均<0.01)。 结论 大学生手机依赖可增加抑郁焦虑共病症状的发生风险, 睡眠 时长可缓解手机依赖对大学生抑郁焦虑共病症状的预测作用。