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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Liu, W, Chen, J-S, Gan, WY, Poon, WC, Tung, SEH, Lee, LJ, Xu, P, Chen, I-H, Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524 and Lin, C-Y, 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): 12135. ISSN 1661-7827

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912135

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.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Creators:	Liu, W., Chen, J.-S., Gan, W.Y., Poon, W.C., Tung, S.E.H., Lee, L.J., Xu, P., Chen, I.-H., Griffiths, M.D. and Lin, C.-Y.
Publisher:	MDPI
Date:	25 September 2022
Volume:	19
Number:	19
ISSN:	1661-7827
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.3390/ijerph191912135 DOI 1601851 Other
Rights:	© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Ward
Date Added:	27 Sep 2022 08:37
Last Modified:	27 Sep 2022 08:37
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/47130