Perfectionism, obsessive-compulsory behaviour, and anxiety in young adults: a moderated mediation model of mobile phone addiction
Abstract Background Mobile phone addiction is becoming a topical concern among young adults. Recent research argues that mobile phone addiction is related to perfectionism, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsory behaviour. Yet, there is a lack of an integrated model encompassing these factors to explain...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24119-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849225840598974464 |
|---|---|
| author | Jiao Cheng Yanjun Chen Jin Liu Sirui Gao Yumeng Ju Bangshan Liu Zhengzong Liu Yan Zhang |
| author_facet | Jiao Cheng Yanjun Chen Jin Liu Sirui Gao Yumeng Ju Bangshan Liu Zhengzong Liu Yan Zhang |
| author_sort | Jiao Cheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Mobile phone addiction is becoming a topical concern among young adults. Recent research argues that mobile phone addiction is related to perfectionism, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsory behaviour. Yet, there is a lack of an integrated model encompassing these factors to explain mobile phone addiction. Guided by a moderated mediation framework, the study aimed to investigate whether perfectionism predisposes young adults to mobile phone addiction through obsessive-compulsory behaviour and anxiety. Methods A cross-sectional survey was used to examine all the variables among 1404 Chinese universities’ student. Results The results a prevalence of 56.50% in mobile phone addiction among the participants. The direct association between perfectionism and mobile phone addiction was significant (β = 0.12, 95%CI [0.09, 0.15]). Obsessive-compulsory behaviour partially mediated the relationship between perfectionism and mobile phone addiction (indirect effect = 0.08, 95%CI [0.06, 0.10]). Additionally, as anxiety increased, the association between perfectionism and mobile phone addiction strengthened via obsessive-compulsory behaviour (Index = 0.008, 95%CI [0.001, 0.004]). Conclusions This large-scale study revealed that individuals high in perfectionism and anxiety are vulnerable for mobile phone addiction, with compulsive use of mobile phone serving as a maladaptive coping strategy to manage distress. The findings contribute to an integrated model that incorporates personality traits, cognitive-behavioral processes, and emotional factors in the development of mobile phone addiction. Perfectionism-informed education and intervention is encouraged to prevent mobile phone addiction in education, clinical, and public health instances. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6aab2168670540e78b97e70a13bd2bb4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-6aab2168670540e78b97e70a13bd2bb42025-08-24T11:55:41ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-08-012511910.1186/s12889-025-24119-8Perfectionism, obsessive-compulsory behaviour, and anxiety in young adults: a moderated mediation model of mobile phone addictionJiao Cheng0Yanjun Chen1Jin Liu2Sirui Gao3Yumeng Ju4Bangshan Liu5Zhengzong Liu6Yan Zhang7The Second Xiangya Hospital, The Chinese Communist Youth League, Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityThe Chinese Communist Youth League, Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityAbstract Background Mobile phone addiction is becoming a topical concern among young adults. Recent research argues that mobile phone addiction is related to perfectionism, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsory behaviour. Yet, there is a lack of an integrated model encompassing these factors to explain mobile phone addiction. Guided by a moderated mediation framework, the study aimed to investigate whether perfectionism predisposes young adults to mobile phone addiction through obsessive-compulsory behaviour and anxiety. Methods A cross-sectional survey was used to examine all the variables among 1404 Chinese universities’ student. Results The results a prevalence of 56.50% in mobile phone addiction among the participants. The direct association between perfectionism and mobile phone addiction was significant (β = 0.12, 95%CI [0.09, 0.15]). Obsessive-compulsory behaviour partially mediated the relationship between perfectionism and mobile phone addiction (indirect effect = 0.08, 95%CI [0.06, 0.10]). Additionally, as anxiety increased, the association between perfectionism and mobile phone addiction strengthened via obsessive-compulsory behaviour (Index = 0.008, 95%CI [0.001, 0.004]). Conclusions This large-scale study revealed that individuals high in perfectionism and anxiety are vulnerable for mobile phone addiction, with compulsive use of mobile phone serving as a maladaptive coping strategy to manage distress. The findings contribute to an integrated model that incorporates personality traits, cognitive-behavioral processes, and emotional factors in the development of mobile phone addiction. Perfectionism-informed education and intervention is encouraged to prevent mobile phone addiction in education, clinical, and public health instances.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24119-8Moderated mediationMobile phone addictionPerfectionismObsessive-compulsory behaviourAnxiety |
| spellingShingle | Jiao Cheng Yanjun Chen Jin Liu Sirui Gao Yumeng Ju Bangshan Liu Zhengzong Liu Yan Zhang Perfectionism, obsessive-compulsory behaviour, and anxiety in young adults: a moderated mediation model of mobile phone addiction BMC Public Health Moderated mediation Mobile phone addiction Perfectionism Obsessive-compulsory behaviour Anxiety |
| title | Perfectionism, obsessive-compulsory behaviour, and anxiety in young adults: a moderated mediation model of mobile phone addiction |
| title_full | Perfectionism, obsessive-compulsory behaviour, and anxiety in young adults: a moderated mediation model of mobile phone addiction |
| title_fullStr | Perfectionism, obsessive-compulsory behaviour, and anxiety in young adults: a moderated mediation model of mobile phone addiction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perfectionism, obsessive-compulsory behaviour, and anxiety in young adults: a moderated mediation model of mobile phone addiction |
| title_short | Perfectionism, obsessive-compulsory behaviour, and anxiety in young adults: a moderated mediation model of mobile phone addiction |
| title_sort | perfectionism obsessive compulsory behaviour and anxiety in young adults a moderated mediation model of mobile phone addiction |
| topic | Moderated mediation Mobile phone addiction Perfectionism Obsessive-compulsory behaviour Anxiety |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24119-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jiaocheng perfectionismobsessivecompulsorybehaviourandanxietyinyoungadultsamoderatedmediationmodelofmobilephoneaddiction AT yanjunchen perfectionismobsessivecompulsorybehaviourandanxietyinyoungadultsamoderatedmediationmodelofmobilephoneaddiction AT jinliu perfectionismobsessivecompulsorybehaviourandanxietyinyoungadultsamoderatedmediationmodelofmobilephoneaddiction AT siruigao perfectionismobsessivecompulsorybehaviourandanxietyinyoungadultsamoderatedmediationmodelofmobilephoneaddiction AT yumengju perfectionismobsessivecompulsorybehaviourandanxietyinyoungadultsamoderatedmediationmodelofmobilephoneaddiction AT bangshanliu perfectionismobsessivecompulsorybehaviourandanxietyinyoungadultsamoderatedmediationmodelofmobilephoneaddiction AT zhengzongliu perfectionismobsessivecompulsorybehaviourandanxietyinyoungadultsamoderatedmediationmodelofmobilephoneaddiction AT yanzhang perfectionismobsessivecompulsorybehaviourandanxietyinyoungadultsamoderatedmediationmodelofmobilephoneaddiction |