The Relationship between Mobile Phone Dependence and Mental Health among Adolescents - The Mediating Role of Academic Burnout and the Moderating Role of Coping Styles

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bulrr

Investigating how mobile phone dependence (MPD) relates to adolescent mental health, this study examines academic burnout as a mediating mechanism and coping styles as a moderating factor. A sample of 1,191 adolescents completed measures of mobile phone dependence, academic burnout, coping styles, and the SCI-90 self-report mental symptom inventory. Structural equation modeling shows MPD negatively predicts mental health, burnout partially mediates the MPD–mental health link, and negative coping strengthens the latter part of the mediating pathway.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Mobile phone dependence and adolescent mental health

Academic burnout as a mediator

Coping styles as moderators

Research Methods

Subjects

The Relationship between Mobile Phone Dependence and Mental Health among Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Academic Burnout and the Moderating Role of Coping Styles Anming He, 1 Jiaojiao Wan,2 Qiuping Hui 1 1. School of Education Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, Henan, China 2. School of Education Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, China | Abstract: To investigate the relationships between adolescent mental health and mobile phone dependence (MPD), academic burnout, and coping styles as well as the underlying mechanisms, this study surveyed 1191 adolescents, using the mobile phone dependence indicator scale, adolescent academic burnout questionnaire, simplified coping style questionnaire, and SCI-90 self-report mental symptom inventory. The analysis results by structural equation modeling techniques are that: (i) MPD is a significant negative predictor of adolescent mental health; (ii) Academic burnout partially mediates the relationship between MPD and adolescent mental health; (iii) Negative coping styles moderate the second half of the mediating path; the mediating effect was more significant among adolescents with higher levels of negative coping than those with lower levels of negative coping. The findings of this study offer implications for the protection and promotion of adolescent mental health in the mobile internet era.
Best Evidence in Chinese Education 2022; 12(1):1581-1587.
Doi: 10.15354/bece.22.ab008 | | --- | | How to Cite: He, A., Wan, J., & Hui, Q. (2022). The relationship between mobile phone dependence and mental health among adolescents: The mediating role of academic burnout and the moderating role of coping styles. Best Evidence in Chinese Education, 12(1):1581-1587. | Keywords: Mobile Phone Dependence, Academic Burnout, Coping Style, Mental Health, Adolescents Correspondence to: Jiaojiao Wan, School of Education Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, China. E-mail: [1060581865@qq.com](1060581865@qq.com) [Conflict of Interests](Conflict of Interests: None)[: None](Conflict of Interests: None). © 2022 Insights Publisher. All rights reserved. Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License ([http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/](http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed by the Insights Publisher. Introduction Mobile phone dependence (MPD), also referred to as cellular phone addition and the problematic mobile phone use, is the individuals’ overindulgence in mobile phonerelated activities which causes strong, persistent cravings for the use of them and consequently, significant impairment in users’ social and psychological functions. The lowered level of mental health is one of the most salient negative ramifications brought by mobile phones to adolescents. The MPD-induced reclusiveness hinders the fulfilling of human needs for interpersonal communication, belonging, and self-actualization, which leads to detrimental emotions of adolescents such as senses of inferiority and loneliness. Academic burnout is a prolonged, negative state of mind related to students’learning, represented by emotional exhaustion, academic apathy, and reduced sense of achievement. Previous studies also found that intense mobile phone users are more likely to be distracted, a mental status unfavorable to learning, and that students with high levels of MPD are more prone to academic procrastination and weariness. Hence, we posit that MPD can positively predict adolescent academic burnout. In addition, academic burnout may be harmful to adolescent mental health. Academic burnout is a form of consumption and loss of mental resources in learning, and the lack of resources can lead to difficul

FAQs

How does mobile phone dependence relate to adolescents’ mental health in this study?

Mobile phone dependence is a significant negative predictor of adolescent mental health, indicating poorer mental health associated with higher MPD.

What role does academic burnout play between MPD and mental health?

Academic burnout partially mediates the relationship between MPD and adolescent mental health, transmitting some of MPD’s impact through increased burnout.

How do coping styles affect the mediating pathway?

Negative coping styles moderate the second half of the mediating path, making the mediating effect stronger for adolescents with higher negative coping than for those with lower negative coping.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bulrr