A study on the correlation between types and duration of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and mobile phone dependence among adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between the type and duration of moderate-to- vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and mobile phone dependence among adolescents, so as to provide a scientific basis for intervention strategies for mobile phone dependence. METHODS: A total of 971 eighth-grade junior high school students in Dalian were selected by mixed sampling. The Chinese version of the Children's Leisure Activities Study Survey was used to measure the type and duration of MVPA, and the Adolescent Mobile Phone Dependence Scale was used to assess the level of mobile phone dependence. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-test, generalized linear model, and stratified regression analysis. RESULTS: Open-skill MVPA was significantly negatively correlated with physical and mental impacts caused by mobile phone dependence (β = -0.777, 95%CI: -1.268 to -0.287, p < 0.01). Meeting the MVPA duration standard was significantly positively correlated with withdrawal symptoms of mobile phone dependence (β = 1.469, 95%CI: 0.574 to 2.364, p < 0.01). Among participants in open-skill PA, the negative association between meeting the duration standard and withdrawal symptoms was stronger (β = -1.890, 95%CI: -3.046 to -0.733, p < 0.01). By contrast, closed-skill PA showed no significant correlation with any dimension of mobile phone dependence, regardless of whether the duration standard was met (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Simply meeting the daily recommended duration of MVPA fails to alleviate adolescents' mobile phone withdrawal symptoms; only combining sufficient MVPA duration with open-skill PA yields a protective effect against mobile phone dependence. The findings of this study can provide a reference for PA arrangements in primary and secondary schools. It is recommended to promote open-skill PA and ensure that students meet the daily recommended duration of MVPA. Nevertheless, all data in this study were collected via self-reported questionnaires. Future research may integrate objective monitoring tools to further verify the findings of the present study.