Physical activity and phubbing behavior in Chinese college students: the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of gender

TL;DR

This study shows that physical activity reduces smartphone-related social neglect (phubbing) in college students, especially in females, by improving self-control.

Contribution

The study identifies self-control as a mediator and gender as a moderator in the relationship between physical activity and phubbing behavior.

Findings

Physical activity directly reduces phubbing behavior in college students.

Self-control mediates the relationship between physical activity and phubbing behavior.

Female students benefit more from physical activity in improving self-control and reducing phubbing.

Abstract

The prevalent adoption of smartphones has given rise to widespread phubbing behavior among college students, characterized by excessive smartphone use in social settings. However, research investigating behavioral intervention strategies to mitigate phubbing behavior remains notably scarce. In the present study, we examined the mediating mechanism of self-control and the moderating role of gender between physical activity and phubbing behavior in college students.

This study was conducted involving 1,340 college students using the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3, Phubbing Scale, and Self-Control Scale, respectively. Data analysis by using SPSS 27.0, including mediation analysis and moderating analysis.

Physical activity had a direct negative influence on phubbing behavior [β = −0.279, 95% CI (−0.331, −0.227)], while self-control acted as a mediator in this indirect relationship [β = −0.123, 95% CI (−0.150, −0.098)]. Additionally, female college students’ participation in physical activity had a stronger impact on improving self-control and reducing phubbing behavior compared to male students.

The current research indicated that physical activity constituted an effective intervention for preventing and reducing phubbing behavior in college students, which could either directly affect college students’ phubbing behavior or indirectly through the mediating variable of self-control. Furthermore, gender moderated the effect of physical activity, self-control, and phubbing behavior, with female students’ physical activity participation exhibiting stronger predictive effects on enhancing self-control and alleviating phubbing behavior compared with male college students.

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