Longitudinal associations between smartphone multitasking and depressive symptoms in college students

ZHU Dongqing; TAO Shuman; XIE Yang; WAN Yuhui; WU Xiaoyan; ZOU Liwei; TAO Fangbiao

doi:10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2024120

Volume 45 Issue 4

Apr. 2024

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ZHU Dongqing, TAO Shuman, XIE Yang, WAN Yuhui, WU Xiaoyan, ZOU Liwei, TAO Fangbiao. Longitudinal associations between smartphone multitasking and depressive symptoms in college students[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2024, 45(4): 465-469. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2024120

Citation:

ZHU Dongqing, TAO Shuman, XIE Yang, WAN Yuhui, WU Xiaoyan, ZOU Liwei, TAO Fangbiao. Longitudinal associations between smartphone multitasking and depressive symptoms in college students[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2024, 45(4): 465-469. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2024120

Citation:

ZHU Dongqing, TAO Shuman, XIE Yang, WAN Yuhui, WU Xiaoyan, ZOU Liwei, TAO Fangbiao. Longitudinal associations between smartphone multitasking and depressive symptoms in college students[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2024, 45(4): 465-469. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2024120

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Longitudinal associations between smartphone multitasking and depressive symptoms in college students

doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2024120

ZHU Dongqing¹,
TAO Shuman^{2, 3
,
,},
XIE Yang¹,
WAN Yuhui^{1, 3},
WU Xiaoyan^{1, 3},
ZOU Liwei³,
TAO Fangbiao^{1, 3, 4}

1.
Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei (230032), Anhui Province, China

Received Date: 2024-02-07
Rev Recd Date: 2024-03-12

Available Online: 2024-04-25

Publish Date: 2024-04-25

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To explore the longitudinal correlation between smartphone multitasking and depressive symptoms, so as to provide an evidence-based basis for promoting the mental health of college students. Methods A total of 967 college students were recruited from one university in Taiyuan, Chongqing, and Shenzhen cities, China, by using multi-stage randomized cluster sampling from October to December 2021 at baseline, and a follow-up survey was conducted in May 2022. Smartphone multitasking behaviors were assessed by means of the Assessment of Smartphone Multitasking for Adolescents (ASMA), and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) among college students. Chi-square tests were performed to compare the differences in depressive symptoms between different groups of demographic characteristics, and binary Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the associations between smartphone multitasking and depressive symptoms among college students. Results The rates of depressive symptoms among college students at baseline and follow-up were 35.2% and 42.3%, respectively. Compared to the low level smartphone multitasking index group at baseline, the moderate and high level groups were more likely to experience depressive symptoms at baseline (moderate level group: OR=1.74, 95%CI=1.22-2.50, high level group: OR=2.77, 95%CI=1.94-3.95) and follow-up (moderate level group: OR=1.41, 95%CI=1.01-1.95, high level group: OR=1.64, 95%CI=1.17-2.29) (P < 0.05). In addition, compared to the persistently low smartphone multitasking index, increased risk of depressive symptoms was associated with maintaining a moderate-to-high (OR=2.94, 95%CI=1.83-4.71), and a higher (OR=2.07, 95%CI=1.31-3.27) or lower smartphone multitasking index (OR=2.02, 95%CI=1.27-3.19) (P < 0.05). Moreover, higher smartphone multitasking index scores were positively associated with the risk of new-onset depressive symptoms at follow-up (OR=1.87, 95%CI=1.07-3.27, P < 0.05). Conclusions Smartphone multitasking behaviors are find to be associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms in college students. There is a need to reduce smartphone multitasking in order to decrease depressive symptoms and promote students' mental health.
- Cellular phone,
- Multimedia,
- Depression,
- Mental health,
- Regression analysis,
- Students

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References(25)

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