The effect of negative attention bias on mobile phone addiction in sports majors: a moderated mediation model.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the intricate relationship between negative attention bias and mobile phone addiction, with a particular focus on the mediating role of depression and the moderating role of anxiety. Methods: Through an online questionnaire survey of 891 college students majoring in physical education, multiple validated scales were employed for measurement, and advanced statistical methods were utilized for data analysis. Results: The results revealed a significant positive correlation between negative attention bias and mobile phone addiction. Depression was found to partially mediate the relationship between the two, and anxiety significantly moderated the association between depression and mobile phone addiction. Conclusion: These findings not only enrich the theoretical research on mobile phone addiction, but also provide empirical evidence for the development of targeted intervention strategies, thus holding great significance for promoting the mental health of sports majors.