Associations of Problematic Internet Use, Weight-Related Self-Stigma, and Nomophobia with Physical Activity: Findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia

Abstract

Insufficient physical activity is a common problem for university students because they may engage in sedentary lifestyle owing to excessive time spent on their smartphones and social media use. This may result in problematic internet use (PIU) and nomophobia (fear of not having a mobile phone). Moreover, prior evidence shows that weight-related self-stigma is an important factor contributing to low physical activity. Therefore, the present study examined the associations between PIU, nomophobia, and physical activity among university students across mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Participants (3135 mainland Chinese, 600 Taiwanese, and 622 Malaysian) completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS), Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMPQ), Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The measurement invariance of the assessed questionnaires was supported across the three regions. The present findings analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling showed that (i) greater nomophobia was associated with higher levels of physical activity, (ii) greater weight-related self-stigma was associated with higher levels of physical activity, and (iii) greater nomophobia was associated with greater weight-related self-stigma. Although the present findings suggest the possibility that experiencing some level of nomophobia or weight-related self-stigma appears to help improve physical activity, it is not recommended that these be encouraged, but reducing PIU should be targeted as a means to improve physical activity.

Nomophobia (No Mobile Phone Phobia) and Psychological Health Issues among Young Adult Students

“…Third, it is conceivable that further latent and, thus, unassessed dimensions, such as low self-esteem, high intolerance of uncertainty, and, above all, trait anxiety and social support, might have biased the current pattern of results. In this view, we may assume that symptoms of nomophobia might show a high overlap also with problematic internet use, and some more recent publications on this association appear to confirm this assumption [ 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ]. In contrast, we may further assume that persons scoring high on resilience and mental toughness should be more protected from symptoms of problematic smart phone and internet use, given that both resilience [ 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 ] and mental toughness [ 84 ] are associated with higher scores for stress resistance.…”

Problematic Social Networking Site use-effects on mental health and the brain

“…Recent studies assessing the problematic social networking use and self-stigma among people with mental illness have shown an association between problematic social networking use and self-stigma. For example, people with substance use disorders were found that their problematic use may lead to their self-stigma ( 118 , 119 ). It is useful to investigate further this important association.…”

Temporal associations between physical activity and three types of problematic use of the internet: A six-month longitudinal study

“…In other words, use of social media and online gaming may lead to an increase in physical activity among some individuals. However, excessive use of social media and online gaming may generate other health and behavior problems ( Liu et al., 2022 ). Therefore, it is important to identify specific factors related to social media use and online gaming that benefit individuals' physical activity but that do not lead to the development of other health and behavioral problems.…”