Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Jul 2024)

The Association Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Mobile Phone Addiction Among Overseas Chinese Students During COVID-19: The Mediating Roles of Perceived Stress and Rumination

  • Sang Z,
  • Chen HF,
  • Yeung JWK,
  • Xu L

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 2573 – 2585

Abstract

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Ziyang Sang, Hui-Fang Chen, Jerf WK Yeung, Leilei Xu Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionCorrespondence: Hui-Fang Chen, Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Ave, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Tel +852 3442297, Fax +852 34420283, Email [email protected]: This study investigated the mechanism underlying the association between intolerance of uncertainty and mobile phone addiction among Chinese overseas students during the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the mediating roles of perceived stress and rumination.Patients and Methods: An online questionnaire survey was distributed via social media platforms popular in mainland China. The items collected demographic information and assessed intolerance of uncertainty, perceived stress, rumination, and mobile phone addiction. A total of 249 respondents completed the questionnaire.Results: The findings suggest a considerably high risk of mobile phone addiction in the study period among overseas Chinese students, as three-fourths of the participants may have been susceptible to mobile phone addiction according to the suggested cut-off point of the Chinese version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Form. Intolerance of uncertainty showed a significant positive direct effect on mobile phone addiction. The mediation analyses suggest that intolerance of uncertainty affected mobile phone addiction mainly through three pathways: the mediating effect of perceived stress, the mediating effect of rumination, and the chain mediating effect of perceived stress and rumination.Conclusion: This study enhances understanding of mobile phone addiction among Chinese overseas students and suggests the mediating roles of rumination and perceived stress in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and mobile phone addiction. The study also provides suggestions for interventions among Chinese students overseas.Keywords: vulnerability, mental health, health issues, internet

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