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. 2020 Jan 21:10:3032.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03032. eCollection 2019.

Sedentary Behavior and Problematic Smartphone Use in Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Self-Control

Ming-Qiang Xiang  1 , Long Lin  1 , Zi-Rong Wang  2 , Jin Li  2 , Zebo Xu  1   3 , Min Hu  1
Affiliations

Sedentary Behavior and Problematic Smartphone Use in Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Self-Control

Ming-Qiang Xiang et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

This study investigated smartphone use characteristics including the purpose of smartphone use (i.e., leisure, learning, or work) and situational smartphone use (i.e., sitting, standing, or moving about) in Chinese adolescents. Moreover, it tested the moderating role of self-control in the link between sedentary behavior and problematic smartphone use. A total of 947 adolescents completed measures of the purpose of their smartphone use, situational smartphone use, sedentary behavior, self-control, time on smartphone, and smartphone addiction. Results showed that the majority of smartphone use was for leisure and learning, and 90.9% of adolescents reported typically sitting as they used the smartphone. Problematic smartphone use was positively correlated with sedentary behavior and negatively correlated with self-control. Moreover, the relationship between sedentary behavior and problematic smartphone use was moderated by self-control, in that the negative correlation was stronger for adolescents with low self-control and weaker for those with high self-control. These results contribute to the understanding of when sedentary behavior is associated with problematic smartphone use. Several limitations and implications are discussed in this study.

Keywords: adolescents; exercise interventions; problematic smartphone use; sedentary behavior; self-control.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
The plot of the relationship between sedentary behavior and time on smartphone use at two levels of self-control.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The plot of the relationship between sedentary behavior and smartphone addiction at two levels of self-control.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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