Effects of physical activity on anxiety phenomenon in vocational college students–chain mediation of self-control and mobile phone dependence

Background Anxiety has emerged as a significant concern among students at vocational colleges in China and has received sustained attention from scholars in sports science. This study’s primary objective was to examine the relationships among physical activity, self-control, mobile phone dependence, and anxiety in vocational college students within a digital society. The secondary objective was to assess the specific roles of mobile phone dependence and self-control in relation to anxiety. Methods A cross-sectional survey used the Physical Activity Rating Scale, Self-Control Scale, Mobile Phone Dependence Index, and Anxiety Scale. The sample comprised 5,991 vocational college students in Shaanxi Province (male: 3,443; female: 2,548; mean age = 19.23, SD = 0.91). Descriptive analyses summarized demographic variables. Spearman correlation, regression, and chain mediation analyses were applied to model relations among the variables. Results Physical activity correlated positively with self-control, and both variables correlated negatively with mobile phone dependence and anxiety. Mobile phone dependence correlated positively with anxiety. Conclusion Self-control and mobile phone dependence each independently mediated the relationship between physical activity and anxiety. In addition, they operated as sequential (chain) mediators linking physical activity to anxiety among vocational college students.