Network analysis of comorbid depression, anxiety and mobile phone addiction among Chinese collegiate aerobics enthusiasts

College aerobics enthusiasts are uniquely exposed to pressures from both athletic training and digital engagement, which may coincide with heightened vulnerability to comorbid mental health issues. This study aimed to examine the network structure of depression, anxiety, and mobile phone addiction (MPA) symptoms within this population. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2,423 Chinese college aerobics enthusiasts (1,573 females; mean age = 19.18). Participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI). Network analysis was employed to assess the relationships between symptoms, identify central and bridging symptoms, and test for gender invariance. The symptom network was densely interconnected. ‘Fatigue’ (PHQ4) and ‘Restlessness’ (GAD5) emerged as central symptoms in the anxiety-depression network. In the broader network, ‘Inefficiency’ (IN) and ‘Avoidance’ (AV) from the MPA scale were identified as the strongest bridge symptoms linking MPA with emotional distress. No significant differences were found in the network structure and global strength between male and female participants. While ‘Inefficiency’ and ‘Avoidance’ serve as critical links between mobile phone addiction and emotional symptoms among college aerobics enthusiasts, the cross-sectional nature of the data precludes any definitive causal inferences. The gender invariance of the network suggests that interventions targeting these core symptoms could be effective for both male and female students. However, the generalizability of the findings is limited by the use of a non-probability snowball sampling method. Thus, further research is necessary to explore the longitudinal effects of these variables in this specific sports context.