The Influence of Mobile Phone Abuse on Mental Wellbeing Conditions: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Self-Control Dual System

Wei Tian

Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, 06010, Kedah,Malaysia

Nor A'tikah binti Mat Ali

Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, 06010, Kedah,Malaysia

Suzila Binti Ismail

Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, 06010, Kedah,Malaysia

Abstract

The prevalence of mobile phone misuse among college students is increasingly concerning as smartphone access becomes more widespread, with numerous adverse consequences for mental wellbeing. This study aims to examine the relationship between mental wellbeing and mobile phone misuse among college students, while also exploring the mediating and moderating roles of the dual-system of self-control, comprising the control system and the impulse system. A total of 9961 undergraduate students from a Chinese university participated in this survey, which assessed smartphone addiction, mental wellbeing, and self-control capacities. SPSS 29.0 was employed to analyse the relationships between these variables. Significant associations were identified among mobile phone misuse, the dual systems of self-control, and mental wellbeing. The impulse system was found to mediate the relationship between mental wellbeing and excessive mobile phone use. Furthermore, the control system moderated the interaction between these variables. The findings suggest that enhancing self-control abilities among college students, particularly the effectiveness of their control system, may mitigate the detrimental impact of mobile phone misuse on mental wellbeing.

Mental Well-Being Conditions, Smartphone Addiction, Self-Control Dual System, Mediating Role, Moderating Role