A total of 1591 university students were surveyed to examine the links between , , and .
Physical-emotional abuse significantly predicted both Internet addiction and anxiety among university students (β = 0.157, β = 0.271, p < 0.001).
When anxiety was included in the analysis, the direct effect of physical-emotional abuse on Internet addiction was no longer significant (β = 0.035, p > 0.05).
Anxiety fully mediated the relationship between physical-emotional abuse and Internet addiction.
negatively predicted anxiety (β = -0.062, p < 0.05).
The interaction between physical-emotional abuse and physical activity also negatively predicted anxiety (β = -0.053, p < 0.05).
Physical activity moderated the mediation pathway from physical-emotional abuse to anxiety to Internet addiction.
Simplified
This study aimed to explore the relationship between physical and emotional abuse () and in university students, as well as the mediating role of and the moderating role of . The data of physical-emotional abuse, anxiety and Internet addiction, and physical activity were measured by subjective questionnaire with convenience sampling in March 2024. A total of 1591 participants (806 males and 692 females) from Shanxi, Henan, Hunan and Hubei provinces in China were investigated. Subsequently, the relationships among the variables were explored using pearson correlation analysis. Finally, mediation and moderation models were assessed using the SPSS PROCESS macro plugin. After controlling for participants' gender, grade level, and place of residence, only-child status, the study findings revealed that physical-emotional abuse significantly and positively predicted internet addiction and anxiety among university students (β = 0.157, β = 0.271, p < 0.001). However, upon the inclusion of anxiety as a variable, the predictive effect of physical-emotional abuse on internet addiction among university students became non-significant (β = 0.035, p > 0.05). Anxiety was found to have a significant complete mediating effect between physical-emotional abuse and internet addiction among university students. Additionally, physical activity significantly and negatively predicted anxiety (β = -0.062, p < 0.05), and the interaction term between physical-emotional abuse and physical activity also significantly and negatively predicted anxiety (β = - 0.053, p < 0.05). Physical activity moderated the first half of the mediation pathway from "physical-emotional abuse to anxiety to internet addiction." Anxiety may be the internal mechanism of physical-emotional abuse affecting university students' Internet addiction, and physical activity plays a moderator role in the relationship between physical-emotional abuse and university students' Internet addiction. The study will provide new perspectives and strategies for the public health field to address physical-emotional abuse and Internet addiction among university students. It is also critical that future studies validate these findings on a large, multi-country basis.
Key numbers
0.271
Predictive Effect of on
β coefficient from regression analysis.
0.035
Complete Mediation Effect of
β coefficient indicating mediation effect.
-0.062
Negative Prediction of by
β coefficient from regression analysis.
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Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by the Biomedicine Ethics Committee of Jishou University before the initiation of the project (Grant number: JSDX−2024−0086). Prior to the commencement of the investigation, all subjects voluntarily participated with informed consent and signed a written informed consent form. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
