A chain mediating model of the impact of physical exercise on sleep quality

Abstract Background In the fast-paced modern life, sleep quality has become a key indicator for measuring individual health and quality of life. The mechanisms by which physical exercise influences sleep quality through psychological and behavioral pathways, particularly via smartphone dependence, remain underexplored. Objective To investigate the mediating roles of mobile phone dependence and sleep duration in the relationship between physical exercise and sleep quality, using a chain mediation model. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted on 1905 college students, and data were processed using Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling. Results Mobile phone dependence significantly mediated the relationship between physical exercise and sleep quality, with an effect size of 0.036 (p