Gender-based differences in interaction effects between childhood maltreatment and problematic mobile phone use on college students’ depression and anxiety symptoms

Abstract

Background Childhood maltreatment and problematic mobile phone use are risk factors for depression and anxiety symptoms among college students. However, how the interaction between the two factors affects depression and anxiety has yet to be validated. This study aimed to investigate the independent and interaction effects of childhood maltreatment and problematic mobile phone use on depression and anxiety among college students and explored gender-based differences in these associations. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2019. We collected data from 7623 students at two colleges in Hefei and Anqing cities in Anhui Province, China. Multinomial logistic regression models were performed to explore the associations of childhood maltreatment and problematic mobile phone use with depression and anxiety symptoms and their interaction effects on depression and anxiety symptoms. Results Childhood maltreatment and problematic mobile phone use were significantly associated with increased risk of depression and anxiety symptoms (P < 0.001). Moreover, following adjustments for covariates, there was a multiplicative interaction between childhood maltreatment and problematic mobile phone use on depression and anxiety symptoms (P < 0.001). Gender-based differences were also observed in the associations. For instance, depression was more common in males and male students with childhood maltreatment were at higher risk of depression-only symptoms. Conclusion Focusing on childhood maltreatment and problematic mobile phone use could facilitate a reduction in the occurrence of depression and anxiety symptoms in college students. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop gender-targeted intervention strategies.

The impact of problematic mobile phone use and the number of close friends on depression and anxiety symptoms among college students

“…Ultimately, 7,617 valid samples were obtained, at an efciency rate of 96.8%. According to the previous survey results of the author’s research team, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and co-morbidity of depression and anxiety symptoms were 20.0, 20.3, and 10.1%, respectively ( 13 ), and the calculation of study power inferred that 7,617 subjects could meet the needs of the design sample size of this study. A total of 2,312 (30.4%) were boys, and 5,305 (69.6%) were girls.…”

“…Compared with students with either depression or anxiety symptoms, college students with comorbid anxiety and depression usually experience more stressful life events, worse emotional regulation ability, more severe physical and mental symptoms, more serious impairment of social functioning, and worse prognosis, making the comorbidities of depression and anxiety a key public health issue ( 12 ). As a result, there is increasing attention being paid to the factors that contribute to depression and anxiety symptoms, the comorbidity of these symptoms, as well as the interactions among these factors ( 13 ).…”

Associations of mobile phone addiction with suicide ideation and suicide attempt: findings from six universities in China

“…Many previous epidemiological surveys found a high rate of mobile phone addiction among college students. For example, Zhang et al (12) found that the prevalence of problematic mobile phone use among Chinese university students was as high as 26.1%. As a systematic review reported, China was at the highest incidence of mobile phone addiction (13).…”