Mobile phone addiction and social anxiety among nursing students during internship: The longitudinal mediating role of physical activity and social adaptability in mental health promotion

Mobile phone addiction among nursing interns may trigger social anxiety, making it an important issue in nursing education. However, research on the relationship between mobile phone addiction and social anxiety among nursing interns remains relatively limited. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of mobile phone addiction on social anxiety among nursing interns, and to examine the chain-mediating roles of physical activity and social adaptability. From September 2024 to March 2025, a three-wave longitudinal survey was conducted among 565 nursing interns from five hospitals in China. The Mobile Phone Addiction Index, Physical Activity Rating Scale, Social Adaptation Questionnaire, and Interaction Anxiousness Scale were employed. A chain mediation model was constructed, and data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 4.1. Significant correlations were found among mobile phone addiction, physical activity, social adaptability, and social anxiety in nursing interns. Mobile phone addiction positively predicted social anxiety. Physical activity and social adaptability both served as mediating variables in the relationship between mobile phone addiction and social anxiety, and together they formed a chain mediation effect. Mobile phone addiction not only directly influences social anxiety among nursing interns but also indirectly affects it through physical activity and social adaptability. Nursing educators should strengthen guidance on appropriate mobile phone use among interns and reasonably structure extracurricular time to promote physical exercise. Enhancing social adaptability and communication skills may effectively reduce social anxiety during internships. These measures can contribute to better mental health and professional development among nursing interns.