The relationship between physical activity and sleep quality among college students: The chain-mediating effects of self-control and mobile phone addiction

The psychological and physiological health of undergraduates was correlated with the sleep quality, which can be improved through increasing physical activity. However, the correlations between physical activity and sleep quality are subject to various factors. In this study, we investigated the effects of self-control and mobile phone addiction on the correlations between physical activity on undergraduates' sleep quality at the psychological and behavioral levels. Data was collected through a survey with a convenient sample of 2,274 students in China. The study utilized scales of physical activity, sleep quality, self-control, and mobile phone addiction to quantitatively evaluate the impact of physical activity on the sleep quality of undergraduates. The correlations were analyzed using SPSS 26.0, including descriptive statistics, confidence tests, common method bias tests, correlation analysis, and hypothesis tests. Pearson correlation analysis shows that physical activity was significantly correlated with sleep quality (r = -0.541, p < 0.001), and that physical activity and sleep quality were significantly correlated with self-control and mobile phone addiction. Regression analysis shows that physical activity had a significant positive regression effect on self-control (standardized regression coefficient β = 0.234, p < 0.001), a significant negative regression effect on mobile phone addiction (β = -0.286, p < 0.001), and a significant negative regression effect on sleep quality (β = -0.351, p < 0.001). Further, a chain mediation model of physical activity → self-control → mobile phone addiction → sleep quality was proposed. The findings provide basic data for college students to promote physical activity and improve sleep quality.