The Impact of Smartphone Addiction on Chinese University Students’ Physical Activity: Exploring the Role of Motivation and Self-Efficacy

Abstract

Background

Previous studies showed that smartphone addiction (SA) can lead to reduced physical activity (PA), but only a few studies have explored the impact of SA from psychological perspective closely related to PA. This study aimed to examine the extrinsic and partial psychological factors leading to decrease in PA using structural equation modelling analysis.

Methods

We conducted an online survey on 628 males and 1159 female students from 10 universities in Henan Province, China, through a questionnaire survey application “Questionnaire Star”. This study used three models to test the mediating effects of three types of motives (intrinsic motives, body-related motives, and social motives) and self-efficacy, respectively, in the relationship between smartphone addiction and physical activities.

Results

Our result confirmed that smartphone addiction leads to lower physical activities. Secondly, self-efficacy mediates smartphone addiction and physical activities, but the mediating effect of all three types of motivation is not significant. Thirdly, smartphone addiction did not affect intrinsic motivation and body-related motivation, but positively affects social motivation. Finally, as the motivation type changes from internal to external, the mediating effect of self-efficacy becomes stronger.

Conclusion

This study showed that smartphone addiction lead to increase social motivation and decreased self-efficacy, and is a potential barrier to personal participation in physical activities. Our findings provide a new perspective for future design physical activities interventions in China and worldwide especially among university students where smartphone addiction is a problem.

Keywords:

• smartphone use
• smartphone addiction
• physical activity
• motivation
• self-efficacy
• physical health

Abbreviations

SA, Smartphone Addiction; PA, Physical Activity; SE, Self-efficacy; IM, intrinsic motivation; BRM, body-related motivation; SM, social motivation; SDT, Self-determination Theory; CFA, Confirmatory Factor Analysis; RMSEA, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation; CFI, Comparative Fit Index; TLI, Tucker Lewis Index.

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets during and/or analyzed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Malaya (Reference Number: UM. TNC2/UMREC-977).

Consent for Publication

We attest to the fact that the authors listed on the title page have read the manuscript, attest to the validity and legitimacy of the data and its interpretation, and agree to its submission to “Psychology Research and Behavior Management” journal.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all the university students, student mentors and physical education teachers who participated in or contributed to this study. In addition, we would like to thank the University of Malaya and the Henan Institute of Science and Technology for their continued moral support.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; All authors took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; All authors gave final approval of the version to be published; All authors have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; All authors have agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.