Association between problematic social media use and physical activity: the mediating roles of nomophobia and the tendency to avoid physical activity

Po-Ching Huang; Femke Geusens; Hsing-Fen Tu; Xavier C. C. Fung; Chao-Ying Chen

doi:10.29329/jsomer.4

Authors

Po-Ching Huang School of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2047-2246
Femke Geusens Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Hsing-Fen Tu Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Xavier C. C. Fung Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0170-6203
Chao-Ying Chen School of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29329/jsomer.4

Keywords:

Social media use, Nomophobia, Tendency to avoid physical activity, Physical activity, Exercise avoidance

Abstract

Insufficient physical activity is now a global pandemic. Problematic social media use (PSMU) has been reported to be associated with physical activity levels, and nomophobia can be one of the co-existing psychological conditions of PSMU. Additionally, physical activity avoidance has been reported to be associated with lower physical activity levels. Therefore, the present study examined nomophobia and physical activity avoidance as underlying factors potentially explaining the association between PSMU and physical activity among Taiwanese young adults. A cross-sectional online survey comprising the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMPQ), Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire – short form (IPAQ-SF) was completed by 885 participants (36% male, mean age = 28.8 ± 6.06 years) between September and December 2023. The structural equational modeling results indicated a negative direct association between PSMU and physical activity (standardized coefficient [β] = 0.040, p = 0.004). PSMU was also associated with higher nomophobia (β = 0.601, p < 0.001), which was associated with higher physical activity avoidance (β = 0.354, p < 0.001), which negatively correlated to physical activity (β = -0.114, p < 0.001). Moreover, the association between PSMU and physical activity was significantly mediated through the sequence of nomophobia and PA avoidance (β = -0.024, 95% bootstrap confidence interval = -0.071, -0.024). The results suggested that PSMU may be associated with lower physical activity through the mediation of nomophobia and physical activity avoidance. Corresponding strategies may aim to reduce PSMU and enhance physical activity engagement. Other approaches, such as motivational interviewing or cognitive behavioral therapy, can be adopted to reduce nomophobia and physical activity avoidance, thereby improving the individuals’ physical activity participation.

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