Exercise Shields Middle Schoolers from Phone Dependency, Reducing Depression Symptoms

Frontiers in Psychology | 2025, Vol. 16, 1471657.

The impact of physical exercise on adolescents’ mobile phone dependency: the serial mediating role of self-esteem and depression

Jingtao Wu - School of Physical Education, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, China

Yanhong Shao - Xiangshui Teacher Development Center, Yancheng, China

Wanli Zang - Postgraduate School, Harbin Sport University, Harbin, China

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the impact of physical exercise on the prevalence of mobile phone dependency among middle school students, as well as to delineate the serial mediating roles of self-esteem and depression within this relationship.

Methods: A convenient cluster random sampling method was employed to conduct a questionnaire survey among 3,786 middle school students from Guangdong, Sichuan, Zhejiang, Henan, and other provinces. Measurements were taken using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the Self-esteem Scale, the Depression Scale, and the Mobile Phone Dependency Scale.

Results: Physical exercise was significantly negatively correlated with mobile phone dependency (r = −0.400, p < 0.001) and depression (r = −0.400, p < 0.001), and positively correlated with self-esteem (r = 0.257, p < 0.001). Mobile phone dependency was significantly positively correlated with depression (r = 0.540, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with self-esteem (r = −0.129, p < 0.001). Depression was negatively correlated with self-esteem (r = −0.396, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that self-esteem and depression significantly mediated the relationship between physical exercise and mobile phone dependency, with a total indirect effect of −0.116 (95% CI = [−0.239, −0.140]), accounting for 100% of the total effect. Specifically, the indirect effect through “physical exercise influencing depression, which then affects mobile phone dependency” was −0.076 (95% CI = [−0.224, −0.128]), accounting for 65.52% of the total effect; the indirect effect through “physical exercise influencing self-esteem, which then influences depression, and in turn affects mobile phone dependency” was −0.040 (95% CI = [−0.063, −0.027]), accounting for 34.48%; the indirect effect through “physical exercise influencing self-esteem, which then affects mobile phone dependency” was not significant (95% CI included 0).

Conclusion: Physical exercise can directly reduce the dependency of middle school students on mobile phones, and it can also indirectly reduce mobile phone dependency by enhancing self-esteem and reducing levels of depression.

physical exercise, mobile phone dependency, self-esteem, depression, middle school students

“Mobile phone dependency has become an increasingly severe problem among adolescents… Prolonged dependency on mobile phones not only affects adolescents’ academic performance, but also leads to physiological disorders, interpersonal relationship issues, and difficulties in social adaptation… physical exercise has emerged as a proactive lifestyle choice, garnering increasing attention for its positive effects on the physical and mental health of the general public. And it has also been recognized as an important external factor in adolescents’ mobile phone dependency… This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical exercise, self-esteem, depression, and mobile phone dependency, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem and depression in the relationship between physical exercise and mobile phone dependency…

The Self-Determination Theory posits that fulfilling the psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness is crucial for intrinsic motivation and well-being… physical exercise can meet these needs, promoting mental health and prosocial behavior while excessive mobile phone use is a maladaptive strategy for fulfilling these needs, leading to social isolation and dependency…This study hypothesizes that regular exercise, by satisfying basic psychological needs, can mitigate mobile phone dependency symptoms…

A negative correlation exists between self-esteem and mobile phone dependency, with low self-esteem individuals more likely to seek gratification and social interaction through phones. This behavior, however, fails to genuinely boost satisfaction or self-esteem, instead deepening phone dependency…” (p. 2).

“...Significant gender-based disparities are evident in the realms of physical exercise and mobile phone dependency (p < 0.001), with males demonstrating markedly superior engagement in physical activities, contrasted by females exhibiting a heightened propensity for mobile phone dependency [among 3,426 valid questionnaires]… An inverse relationship is observed between physical exercise and advancements in age and academic grade, indicating a decline in physical activity as students mature and progress… Conversely, a positive correlation is noted for self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and mobile phone dependency, suggesting that these variables tend to escalate with increasing age and grade level…” (p. 5). 

“The results indicate that…physical exercise may primarily reduce mobile phone dependency by lowering depression levels and may also indirectly reduce mobile phone dependency by enhancing self-esteem, which in turn reduces depression levels…” (p. 6). 

“...This study focused primarily on middle school students…Looking ahead, future research could further explore the influence of variables such as family support and school environment on mobile phone dependency, particularly how these factors interact with physical exercise interventions to develop effective strategies for addressing mobile phone dependency among adolescents… Physical exercise not only affects mobile phone dependency through the indirect effects of self-esteem and depression but also demonstrates the significant role of physical exercise in promoting students’ physical and mental health…” (p. 9).

“This study reveals the serial mediating role of self-esteem and depression in the process of physical exercise affecting mobile phone dependency… Theoretically, it fills the gaps in the mechanism of intervention for mobile phone dependency and deepens the research on how physical exercise enhances self-control and efficacy. 

From a practical life perspective, regular physical exercise can significantly improve an individual’s self-control ability, reduce the continuous deterioration of mobile phone dependency behavior, and save the physical and mental health of middle school students, which has practical guidance value” (p. 6).

“...As researchers, we need to pay attention to the fact that there may be some non-linear relationships between physical exercise and mobile phone dependency… as this study is a foundational cross-sectional analysis, it circumscribes our ability to infer causality… Future research should, therefore, contemplate alternative methodologies or quasi-experimental designs to elucidate and explore the interrelationships between variables… 

The findings of this study reaffirm the pivotal role of self-esteem in the influence of physical exercise on mobile phone dependency, offering novel insights for understanding and addressing the issue of mobile phone addiction among middle school students. 

Moving forward, it is imperative to not only encourage youth to participate in sports activities outside the classroom but also to focus on enhancing their self-esteem through these activities, thereby effectively aiding them in overcoming mobile phone addiction…” (p. 6- 8).

“This empirical result is consistent with the Self-Determination Theory, which advocates that individuals need to meet three basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness in the social environment, and physical exercise can fulfill these needs.

In the long-term persistence, goals will be gradually achieved, indirectly obtaining more job competence, and also getting the recognition and praise of others, enhancing emotional communication between each other, and bringing satisfaction to relational needs. 

In contrast, excessive use of mobile phones will only increase the individual’s maladaptation and emotional disorder. 

Although short-term inner pleasure can be satisfied, long-term indulgence will only bring psychological and pathological mental disorders, severely hindering the physical and mental health of adolescents and leading to an exacerbation of dependency symptoms” (p. 6).

“In sum, the study’s outcomes reiterate the pivotal role of depression in the process by which physical exercise influences mobile phone dependency, providing novel insights for a deeper comprehension of adolescent mobile phone dependency. It underscores the necessity to consider underlying emotional states, particularly depressive affect, when devising interventions for mobile phone dependency…” (p. 8).

As always, please join the discussion below if you have thoughts or comments to add!

• Media Exposure to Terrorism and Adolescent Mental Health
• Navigating Middle Childhood and Adolescent Development with Empathy
• From Sexual Attraction to Social Media – How Sharing Our Stories with Students Models Ethical Decision Making with Barbara J. Herlihy
• Healthy Body, Healthy Mind: Exercise Psychology Considerations for Work with Athletes and Non-Athletes in Counseling