Associations of problematic internet use, weight-related self-stigma, and nomophobia with physical activity: findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia
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). Mor...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI
2022
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| _version_ | 1796983893725806592 |
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| author | Liu, Wei Chen, Jung-Sheng Gan, Wan Ying Poon, Wai Chuen Tung, Serene En Hui Lee, Ling Jun Xu, Ping Chen, I-Hua Griffiths, Mark D. Lin, Chung-Ying |
| author_facet | Liu, Wei Chen, Jung-Sheng Gan, Wan Ying Poon, Wai Chuen Tung, Serene En Hui Lee, Ling Jun Xu, Ping Chen, I-Hua Griffiths, Mark D. Lin, Chung-Ying |
| author_sort | Liu, Wei |
| collection | UPM |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T11:12:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm.eprints-100433 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T11:12:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | upm.eprints-1004332023-12-15T23:15:59Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/100433/ Associations of problematic internet use, weight-related self-stigma, and nomophobia with physical activity: findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia Liu, Wei Chen, Jung-Sheng Gan, Wan Ying Poon, Wai Chuen Tung, Serene En Hui Lee, Ling Jun Xu, Ping Chen, I-Hua Griffiths, Mark D. Lin, Chung-Ying 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. MDPI 2022-09-25 Article PeerReviewed Liu, Wei and Chen, Jung-Sheng and Gan, Wan Ying and Poon, Wai Chuen and Tung, Serene En Hui and Lee, Ling Jun and Xu, Ping and Chen, I-Hua and Griffiths, Mark D. and Lin, Chung-Ying (2022) Associations of problematic internet use, weight-related self-stigma, and nomophobia with physical activity: findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (19). art. no. 12135. pp. 1-16. ISSN 1660-4601 https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/19/12135 10.3390/ijerph191912135 |
| spellingShingle | Liu, Wei Chen, Jung-Sheng Gan, Wan Ying Poon, Wai Chuen Tung, Serene En Hui Lee, Ling Jun Xu, Ping Chen, I-Hua Griffiths, Mark D. Lin, Chung-Ying Associations of problematic internet use, weight-related self-stigma, and nomophobia with physical activity: findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia |
| title | Associations of problematic internet use, weight-related self-stigma, and nomophobia with physical activity: findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia |
| title_full | Associations of problematic internet use, weight-related self-stigma, and nomophobia with physical activity: findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Associations of problematic internet use, weight-related self-stigma, and nomophobia with physical activity: findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations of problematic internet use, weight-related self-stigma, and nomophobia with physical activity: findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia |
| title_short | Associations of problematic internet use, weight-related self-stigma, and nomophobia with physical activity: findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia |
| title_sort | associations of problematic internet use weight related self stigma and nomophobia with physical activity findings from mainland china taiwan and malaysia |
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