Associations of Problematic Internet Use, Weight-Related Self-Stigma, and Nomophobia with Physical Activity: Findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia

Wei Liu; Jung-Sheng Chen; Wan Ying Gan; Wai Chuen Poon; Serene En Hui Tung; Ling Jun Lee; Ping Xu; I-Hua Chen; Mark D Griffiths; Chung-Ying Lin

doi:10.3390/ijerph191912135

Associations of Problematic Internet Use, Weight-Related Self-Stigma, and Nomophobia with Physical Activity: Findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 25;19(19):12135. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912135.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Chinese Academy of Education Big Data, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China.
² Department of Medical Research, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan.
³ Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia.
⁴ Sunway University Business School, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya 47500, Malaysia.
⁵ Division of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia.
⁶ Department of Educational Psychology, School of Leisure Sports and Management, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou 510500, China.
⁷ International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK.
⁸ Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.

Abstract

Insufficient physical activity is a common problem for university students because they may engage in sedentary lifestyle owing to excessive time spent on their smartphones and social media use. This may result in problematic internet use (PIU) and nomophobia (fear of not having a mobile phone). Moreover, prior evidence shows that weight-related self-stigma is an important factor contributing to low physical activity. Therefore, the present study examined the associations between PIU, nomophobia, and physical activity among university students across mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Participants (3135 mainland Chinese, 600 Taiwanese, and 622 Malaysian) completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS), Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMPQ), Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The measurement invariance of the assessed questionnaires was supported across the three regions. The present findings analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling showed that (i) greater nomophobia was associated with higher levels of physical activity, (ii) greater weight-related self-stigma was associated with higher levels of physical activity, and (iii) greater nomophobia was associated with greater weight-related self-stigma. Although the present findings suggest the possibility that experiencing some level of nomophobia or weight-related self-stigma appears to help improve physical activity, it is not recommended that these be encouraged, but reducing PIU should be targeted as a means to improve physical activity.

Keywords: nomophobia; physical activity; region comparison; smartphone addiction; social medial addiction; weight stigma.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

China
Exercise*
Humans
Internet Use*
Malaysia
Taiwan

Grants and funding

This research was supported in part by (received funding from) the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST 110-2410-H-006-115; MOST 111-2410-H-006-100). The funding body has no roles in the present study.