Reduced Health-Related Quality of Life Due to Mobile Phone Dependence in a Sample of Chinese College Students: The Mediating Role of Chronotype and Sleep Quality.

PURPOSE

Presenting a chain mediation model to investigate whether mobile phone dependence results in a reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Chinese college students, through the mediating effect of chronotype and sleep quality.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on students from a Chinese university using a validated structured questionnaire.

SAMPLE

2014 freshmen.

MEASURES

The study measured the students' level of mobile phone dependence using the Self-rating Questionnaire for Adolescent Problematic Mobile Phone Use. Chronotype and sleep quality were measured by the Chinese version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. HRQoL was evaluated using the five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), including a descriptive system and a visual analog scale (VAS).

ANALYSIS

Descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and mediation analysis.

RESULTS

Mobile phone dependence had a significant negative effect on HRQoL as indicated by both the EQ-5D-5L index score and EQ-VAS score ( < .001 for both). Additionally, it was found to significantly predict chronotype (MEQ score) ( = -.546, < .001) and sleep quality (PSQI score) ( = .163, < .001). Chronotype negatively predict sleep quality ( = -.058, < .001), and sleep quality was a significant negative predictor of HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L index score, = -.008, < .001; EQ-VAS score, = -1.576, < .001).

CONCLUSION

Mobile phone dependence negatively impacts students' HRQoL through chronotype and sleep quality, and there is a chain mediating effect. Students should consider making lifestyle changes to improve their HRQoL and promote health.