The relationship between mobile phone dependence, self-control, and Tai Chi exercise among sub-health older adults in urban areas: a latent profile analysis

Background The study explores the interconnection between the latent categories of mobile phone dependency and self-control in the sub-healthy urban older adults practicing Tai Chi. The findings aim to provide a reference for preventing mobile phone dependence, enhancing self-control and improving sub-health status in this population. Methods A multi-stage cluster sampling method was employed to screen 560 sub-healthy urban older adults from 2,946 valid survey responses in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Sub-health status was verified using the SHMS V1.0 scale. Data were collected between September and October 2025. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to categorize mobile phone dependency and self-control. Pearson correlation analysis measured the relationship between these two variables. Additionally, chi-square test examined demographic differences across the identified latent profiles. Finally, multivariate logistic regression analyzed the associations between mobile phone dependency, self-control, and Tai Chi exercise. Results LPA identified four distinct profiles: Low dependency-Medium control (109 individuals, 19.5%), High dependency-No control (207 individuals, 37.0%), No dependency-High control (191 individuals, 34.1%), and Moderate dependency-Low control (53 individuals, 9.5%). These categories had statistically significant differences ( p < 0.05). These were gender, age, ethnicity, marital status, educational attainment, and monthly income. Logistic regression controlled for demographic variables. The low dependence-medium control group served as the reference. Tai Chi exercise exhibited negative correlations with medium dependence-low control group (OR = 2.170). It was also associated with the high dependence-no control group (OR = 1.846). Notably, Tai Chi showed a strong positive association with the no dependence-high control group (OR = 111.599) (all p < 0.01). Conclusion Tai Chi exercise exerts differential effects on urban sub-healthy older adults across distinct latent profiles of mobile phone dependency and self-control. Societal stakeholders should strengthen Tai Chi programs for these diverse categories to promote their physical and mental wellbeing.