Association between cell phone dependence and anxiety-depression co morbid symptoms among college students / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To describe the prevalence of cell phone dependence and anxiety-depression co morbidity among college students, and to explore the association between cell phone dependence and anxiety-depression co morbidity among college students, in order to provide a reference basis for promoting the development of college students mental health.@*Methods@#Using a prospective study design, baseline survey was conducted in April-May 2019 among a random whole group sample of 1 135 individuals in two universities in Hefei, Anhui Province and Shangrao, Jiangxi Province, and a follow up survey was conducted in November 2019 among the sampled population, with a valid number of 1 110 individuals after matching with the baseline survey. The Self rating Questionnaire for Adolescent Problematic Mobile Phone Use (SQAPMPU) was used to assess college students cell phone dependence, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Self Rating Scale (DASS-21) to assess depression, anxiety, and anxiety depression co morbidity symptoms, and the self administered Health Related Behavior and Mental Health Questionnaire for College Students to report sleep duration.@*Results@#The detection rates of cell phone dependence among college students at baseline and follow up surveys were 24.5% and 27.7%, respectively, and the detection rates of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and anxiety depression co morbidities were 28.7%, 21.3%, and 18.4%, respectively. The results of the binary Logistic regression model showed that cell phone dependence was positively associated with the risk of anxiety depression co morbid symptoms among college students at baseline ( OR =5.79, 95% CI =4.06-8.24) and after six months of follow up ( OR =2.62, 95% CI =1.86-3.69) ( P <0.01). The results of the moderating effect analysis showed that sleep duration moderated the association between cell phone dependence and anxiety depression co morbidities, and the interaction term was statistically significant ( β =0.08, 0.04, P <0.01).@*Conclusion@#Cell phone dependence in college students increases the risk of depressive and anxiety co morbid symptoms, and sleep mitigates effect of cell phone dependence on depressive and anxiety co morbid symptoms in college students.