Published online Jun 19, 2023. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v13.i6.361
Peer-review started: February 27, 2023
First decision: March 24, 2023
Revised: April 7, 2023
Accepted: April 24, 2023
Article in press: April 24, 2023
Published online: June 19, 2023
Processing time: 111 Days and 20.4 Hours
It has been reported that engineering students have severe depressive symptoms, especially during the epidemic. Published research confirms a positive correlation between smartphone addiction and depression. Sleep may play a mediating role in the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression. However, this hypothesis has not been carefully studied in the engineering student population.
Although it is reasonable that sleep plays a mediating role in the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression, this hypothesis has not been discussed in detail. The motivation of this study is to explore the mediating role of sleep in the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression among engineering students.
To investigate whether sleep plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression among engineering students.
During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, we conducted an online survey of 692 engineering students from an engineering university in Beijing, China. The Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version was used to assess smartphone addiction. Depression was measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to measure sleep. We used multivariate regression models and structural equation model analysis to evaluate sleep as a mediator.
Among 692 engineering students, the rate of smartphone addiction was 63.58%, and the prevalence of depression was 14.16%. According to a multivariate regression model, smartphone addiction and sleep significantly affect depression. Sleep plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between smartphone addiction and depression.
Current research shows that sleep is a mediator between smartphone addiction and depression. Controlling smartphone use and improving sleep quality can help alleviate depression.
Future longitudinal studies need to verify the mediating role of sleep in the association between smartphone addiction and depression. In addition, more variables (such as stress and anxiety) need to be controlled for and considered.