Mixed comparison of interventions for different exercise types on students with Internet addiction: a network meta-analysis

Abstract

BackgroundInternet addiction (IA) has a significant negative impact on students. The condition of students with IA can be improved by exercise, which has been identified as an effective intervention strategy. However, the relative effectiveness of different exercise types and the most effective ones remains unknown. This study presents a network meta-analysis to compare six exercise types (team sport, double sport, single sport, team + double sport, team + single sport, and team + double + single sport) based on their effectiveness in reducing Internet addiction and maintaining mental health.MethodsSystematic searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wan Fang, CQVIP, Web of Science, CBM, EBSCO, APA PsycNet, and Scopus, and all relevant studies from the beginning to 15 July 2022 were included on. According to the Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0 Methodological Quality Evaluation Criteria, the listed studies' bias risk was assessed, while the network meta-analysis was performed using STATA 16.0.ResultsA total of 39 randomized controlled trials that met all inclusion criteria including 2,408 students with IA were examined. The meta-analysis results showed that compared with the control group, exercising significantly improved loneliness, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal sensitivity (p < 0.05). Specifically, the network meta-analysis discovered that the single sport, team sport, double sport, team + double sport, and team + double + single sport had significant effects on improving Internet addiction as compared to the respective control group (p < 0.05); the single sport, team sport, and double sport tend to be effective compared with controls in improving mental health (p < 0.05). Compared with the other five types of sports, the double sport was ranked first and showed the greatest potential to be the best choice (cluster ranking value = 3699.73) in improving Internet addiction (SUCRA = 85.5) and mental health (SUCRA = 93.1).ConclusionExercise could be suggested as the best alternative when treating IA in students, based on the extensive positive effects of exercise on IA, anxiety, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, loneliness, and mental health in IA students. Double sport may be the best type of exercise for Internet-addicted students. However, to further examine the benefits of exercise for IA students, more research is required.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=377035, identifier: CRD42022377035.

The mediating effect of internet addiction and the moderating effect of physical activity on the relationship between alexithymia and depression

“…Research has found that compared to non-internet addicted college students, internet addicted college students have higher levels of depression and lower levels of physical activity 52 . Physical activity can mitigate internet addiction by modulating the neurobiology of the central and autonomic nervous systems 53 , thereby significantly reducing depression levels among internet-addicted college students 54 , and this evidence is also supported by retrospective studies 55 . Therefore, we make the final hypothesis of this study that physical activity can regulate the relationship between internet addiction and depression in college students.…”

“…Additionally, long-term physical exercise can significantly reduce the level of internet addiction and depression among college students, improve sleep quality, and balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system functions 54 . Moreover, group sports activities are enjoyable and involve social interactions, which may further weaken the depressive emotions caused by internet addiction among college students 55 . Therefore, physical activity can regulate the relationship between internet addiction and depression among college students, confirming our last hypothesis.…”

The relationship between physical exercise and problematic internet use in college students: the chain-mediated role of self-control and loneliness

“…Therefore, they tend to use the internet for social interaction instead of face-to-face contact, resulting in PIU. On the other hand, a review of studies has shown that different types of exercise (such as single sport, team sport, double sport, and team + double sport) could alleviate internet addiction by improving the mental health of students with internet addiction (such as loneliness and anxiety) [ 72 ]. Meanwhile, Cheng et al [ 39 ] also found that participation in physical exercise was related to the improvement and adjustment of college student’s mental health, and exercise could effectively promote the release of psychological pressure, increase social opportunities, and reduce negative emotions such as loneliness in the process of exercise, thus playing a role in relieving mobile phone addiction.…”