A Vicious Cycle of Psychological Distress and Problematic Mobile Phone Use in Adolescence: A Longitudinal Test of a Dual Metacognitive Pathway

PAPER manual J Adolesc 2026 Cohort study Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1002/jad.70206 PMID: 42299685 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Introduction: The relationship between psychological distress and problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) is a significant concern for adolescent mental health. However, the longitudinal dynamics of this relationship and the specific cognitive mechanisms driving it remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine the bidirectional relationship between psychological distress and PMPU, and to test the parallel mediating roles of positive and negative metacognitive beliefs. Methods: A two-wave longitudinal study was conducted over a 6-month interval in 2023 with 830 Chinese adolescents (48.6% boys; Mage = 15.18, SD = 1.92) in Zhejiang Province, China. Participants completed self-report measures of psychological distress, PMPU, and metacognitive beliefs. A latent cross-lagged panel model (L-CLPM) was used to test for bidirectional effects. The mediating pathways were tested using a longitudinal path model with bootstrapping. Results: The L-CLPM confirmed a significant bidirectional relationship between psychological distress and PMPU. The mediation analysis revealed that the pathway from T1 psychological distress to T2 PMPU was significantly and simultaneously mediated by both T2 positive and negative metacognitive beliefs. The direct effect was nonsignificant in the presence of the mediators, and the strengths of the two mediation pathways did not statistically differ. Conclusion: Psychological distress and PMPU showed reciprocal prospective associations in adolescents. The pathway from distress to PMPU was accounted for by parallel positive and negative metacognitive beliefs, which may promote engagement and hinder disengagement. Interventions may therefore need to address both emotional distress and these metacognitive beliefs to disrupt this cycle.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Cohort study

Effect direction

mixed

Population

Chinese adolescents in Zhejiang Province, China

Sample size

830

Exposure

mobile phone · 6-month interval

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 86% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a two-wave longitudinal study, psychological distress and problematic mobile phone use showed significant reciprocal prospective associations. The pathway from baseline psychological distress to later problematic mobile phone use was mediated by later positive and negative metacognitive beliefs, with the direct effect nonsignificant after including mediators.

Outcomes measured

psychological distress
problematic mobile phone use
positive metacognitive beliefs
negative metacognitive beliefs

Limitations

Self-report measures
Two-wave observational longitudinal design limits causal inference
Abstract does not describe electromagnetic field exposure levels

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "cohort",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "6-month interval"
    },
    "population": "Chinese adolescents in Zhejiang Province, China",
    "sample_size": 830,
    "outcomes": [
        "psychological distress",
        "problematic mobile phone use",
        "positive metacognitive beliefs",
        "negative metacognitive beliefs"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In a two-wave longitudinal study, psychological distress and problematic mobile phone use showed significant reciprocal prospective associations. The pathway from baseline psychological distress to later problematic mobile phone use was mediated by later positive and negative metacognitive beliefs, with the direct effect nonsignificant after including mediators.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Self-report measures",
        "Two-wave observational longitudinal design limits causal inference",
        "Abstract does not describe electromagnetic field exposure levels"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.85999999999999998667732370449812151491641998291015625,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "problematic mobile phone use",
        "adolescents",
        "psychological distress",
        "metacognitive beliefs",
        "longitudinal study",
        "China"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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