Bin Chen

Objectives: This study examined the within-person longitudinal associations between obesity-related eating behaviors and physical activity among community-dwelling Chinese older adults. Methods: Three waves of data were collected at three-month intervals from 1256 adults aged 65 years or older across 17 urban and rural communities. Physical activity was measured using the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3, and obesity-related eating behaviors were assessed using the seven-item Sakata Eating Behavior Scale Short Form. The eating-behavior scale was reverse-scored so that higher scores represented fewer problematic behaviors. The analysis examined longitudinal measurement invariance, gender differences, and prospective within-person associations using a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model. Results: The analysis identified small reciprocal within-person associations between obesity-related eating behaviors and physical activity. Occasions characterized by fewer problematic eating behaviors than usual were followed by higher-than-usual physical activity at the next wave. Higher-than-usual physical activity was likewise followed by fewer problematic eating behaviors. These associations remained similar after adjustment for the available demographic covariates. Men reported higher average physical activity, while women reported fewer problematic eating behaviors, but changes over time did not differ by gender. Conclusions: Physical activity and obesity-related eating behaviors showed small bidirectional within-person associations across three-month intervals. This reciprocal pattern suggests that the two behaviors are modestly connected within everyday routines and supports examining them together when studying health behavior dynamics in later life.

Purpose: This study examined the bidirectional relationship between subjective wellbeing (SWB) and emotional distress (ED) among college students from a network perspective. It aimed to identify the cross-sectional network structure at two time points, identify the most central nodes, and explore bidirectional pathways between the two domains using cross-lagged network analysis. Methods: A two-wave longitudinal survey was conducted among college students from six universities in Jiangxi, Guizhou, and Jiangsu Provinces, China. Data were collected in December 2024 and December 2025 through the Wenjuanxing online platform. After screening and matching across waves, 1,354 students were retained for analysis. SWB was measured with the Index of Wellbeing Scale, and ED was measured with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21. Cross-sectional networks were estimated at both time points, and a cross-lagged panel network model was used to examine cross-lagged relations over time. Results: The T1 and T2 networks had densities of 0.522 and 0.554, featuring predominantly positive within-domain and negative between-domain edges. At T1, “Life was meaningless” showed the highest strength, whereas at T2, “Hopeful” showed the highest strength. The cross-lagged network showed longitudinal predictive associations between SWB and ED from T1 to T2. Hopeful showed the strongest out-expected influence, 3.24, whereas Satisfied showed the strongest in-expected influence, 2.31. Network stability analysis supported the robustness of the centrality estimates. Conclusion: Network analysis revealed interconnected networks of SWB and ED among college students at both cross-sectional and longitudinal levels. The longitudinal findings indicate bidirectional predictive associations across a 1-year interval. These results highlight the value of a symptom-level approach and suggest that Hopeful and Satisfied may be informative nodes for future research on the temporal associations between positive and negative aspects of mental health.

Objectives: This study explores how negative life events relate to problematic smartphone use among university students and examines whether self-efficacy acts as a mediator and physical activity as a moderator in this relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduates at eight universities in Nanchang, China, from November 2024 to March 2025. Validated instruments were used to assess negative life events (ASLEC), self-efficacy (GSES), physical activity (PARS), and problematic smartphone use (SAS-SV). The sample included 2,680 participants (47.6% male, 52.4% female; mean age = 19.60 years). Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation analysis and PROCESS models for mediation and moderation. Results: Negative life events were positively correlated with problematic smartphone use and negatively correlated with self-efficacy and physical activity. Self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between negative life events and problematic smartphone use [indirect effect β = 0.05, 95% CI (0.04, 0.07)], with a significant direct effect. Physical activity attenuated the positive correlation between negative life events and problematic smartphone use (interaction β = −0.01, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Negative life events, self-efficacy, physical activity, and problematic smartphone use are interrelated among university students. Enhancing self-efficacy and promoting physical activity may help mitigate problematic smartphone use. However, the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reports limit causal inference.

Background: Grit, defined as perseverance and passion for long-term goals, is a vital psychological trait that contributes to academic success and overall wellbeing. At the same time, regular PA supports physical and mental health, yet its engagement often declines among university students. Although grit has been linked to health-promoting behaviors, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. This study investigated the mediating role of self-efficacy from a variable-centered perspective and identified student profiles based on grit and self-efficacy through a person-centered approach. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 3,752 Chinese university students was conducted. Structural equation modeling tested the mediating role of self-efficacy in the grit-PA relationship. Latent Profile Analysis identified subgroups with distinct combinations of grit and self-efficacy, with PA levels compared across profiles. Results: The variable-centered analysis revealed that grit was positively associated with PA ( β = 0.370, p < 0.001), with self-efficacy serving as a significant partial mediator, accounting for 21% of the total effect (indirect effect = 0.077, 95% CI [0.058, 0.097]). The person-centered analysis identified three distinct profiles: “Limited Self-Regulation” (16.12%), “Moderate Self-Regulation” (55.84%), and “Strong Self-Regulation” (28.04%). Students in the Strong Self-Regulation profile demonstrated significantly higher PA engagement ( M = 49.03) compared to those in the Moderate ( M = 31.56) and Limited ( M = 17.84) profiles ( F = 225.11, p < 0.001, η ² = 0.107). Conclusion: Self-efficacy is consistent with a mediating role linking grit to PA among university students. The identification of three distinct profiles reveals meaningful heterogeneity in motivational configurations. Students with high grit and self-efficacy demonstrate optimal PA engagement, while those low in both represent a vulnerable subgroup requiring targeted intervention. Integrating variable- and person-centered approaches provides a comprehensive understanding of motivational processes underlying active lifestyles in higher education, emphasizing the need for tailored, profile-specific interventions.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the psychological mechanisms underlying the relationship between alexithymia and problematic eating behaviors (EB) among older adults. Specifically, we examined whether physical activity (PA) mediated this association, and we further explored the heterogeneity of alexithymia using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,773 community-dwelling older adults in China. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing alexithymia, PA, and EB. Mediation analysis tested the indirect effect of PA on the alexithymia-EB relationship, while LPA identified subgroups of individuals with distinct alexithymia profiles. Results: Mediation analysis revealed that PA significantly mediated the relationship between alexithymia and maladaptive EB, accounting for 18% of the total effect. LPA supported a three-profile solution: pervasive alexithymia (21.15%), adaptive (72.81%), and affective-cognitive dissociation (6.04%). Profile membership was differentially associated with health behaviors, with the pervasive group showing the most unfavorable outcomes (high EB, low PA), and the adaptive group demonstrating the most favorable pattern. Conclusion: These findings highlight PA as a key behavioral pathway through which alexithymia contributes to maladaptive eating in older adults. Moreover, alexithymia is not uniform but heterogeneous, with distinct profiles that confer varied health behavior risks. Interventions to improve eating habits in elderly populations may benefit from tailoring strategies to alexithymia subtypes and systematically promoting PA as an adaptive regulatory mechanism.

Background: Anxiety is significantly correlated with levels of physical activity in university students. This research assessed the effects of anxiety on engagement in physical activity and explored the potential mediating function of psychological resilience. Additionally, latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to identify distinct subtypes based on anxiety and resilience levels, and to explore their associations with physical activity. Methods: Utilizing a non-probability convenience sampling approach, this cross-sectional study recruited a total of 1,436 collegiate participants from multiple universities. Data collection was carried out with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the abbreviated Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), and the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3). Data analysis included mediation effect analysis via Bootstrap methods (Model 4) and latent profile analysis (LPA). Results: Anxiety demonstrated a significant negative association with physical activity ( β = −0.307, p < 0.001) and was identified as a substantial negative predictor of psychological resilience ( β = −0.413, p < 0.001). A significant positive association was observed between psychological resilience and physical activity ( β = 0.178, p < 0.001). The analysis confirmed the role of psychological resilience as a significant mediating variable in the pathway linking anxiety to physical activity, accounting for 24% of the total effect. Furthermore, latent profile analysis identified three distinct typologies: High Anxiety-Low Psychological Resilience (HA-LPR; 10.38%), Moderate Anxiety-Moderate Psychological Resilience (MA-MPR; 62.74%), and Low Anxiety-High Psychological Resilience (LA-HPR; 26.88%). These latent classes demonstrated statistically significant differences in physical activity levels ( F = 209.655, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Results demonstrated that anxiety affects physical activity both directly and indirectly, with the latter effect occurring through the channel of psychological resilience. Latent profile analysis identified three distinct profiles among college students based on anxiety and psychological resilience: High Anxiety-Low Psychological Resilience, Moderate Anxiety-Moderate Psychological Resilience, and Low Anxiety-High Psychological Resilience. Marked variations in physical activity levels were observed among these subgroups. The results underscore the complex relationships among mental health indicators and health behaviors within the collegiate population. The delineation of distinct profiles offers practical implications for designing tailored intervention strategies.

Background: While the literature on mobile phone addiction (MPA) is extensive, it has overwhelmingly focused on younger populations, leaving its manifestation and impact among older adults as a critical research gap. Positive exercise experience (PEE) is a potential protective factor, yet the dynamic, reciprocal relationship between PEE and MPA in later life is poorly understood. This study addresses this gap. This study aimed to (a) examine the stability of PEE and MPA across three time points, (b) explore potential gender differences, and (c) test the reciprocal predictive relationships between PEE and MPA using a cross-lagged panel model. Methods: A three-wave longitudinal survey (9 months, April 2024–January 2025) was conducted among 828 older adults recruited from senior universities in four provinces of China. Participants completed the Subjective Exercise Experience Scale (PEE dimension) and the Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale. Repeated-measures ANOVA was employed to test temporal and gender effects. Cross-lagged panel analyses were estimated in Mplus 8.0 to assess reciprocal prediction between PEE and MPA. Results: PEE remained stable across time with no gender differences, whereas MPA showed a significant increase over the three waves but no gender effect. PEE and MPA were significantly negatively correlated at all time points ( r = −0.513 to −0.136, all p < 0.01). Cross-lagged analysis revealed a consistent protective effect: PEE at T₁ predicted lower MPA at T₂ ( β = −0.110, p < 0.01), and PEE at T₂ predicted lower MPA at T₃ ( β = −0.168, p < 0.001). In contrast, MPA at T₁ predicted lower PEE at T₂ ( β = −0.232, p < 0.001), but MPA at T₂ did not predict PEE at T₃. Conclusion: Findings indicate that PEE is relatively stable in older adults, while MPA increases over time. PEE consistently emerges as a protective factor against future MPA, whereas the inhibitory role of MPA on PEE appears weaker and less stable. These results highlight the importance of promoting enjoyable exercise experiences to mitigate technology-related risks and support healthier aging trajectories.

Background: Physical inactivity is a significant public health issue among female college students. This study aimed to explore the complex relationship between self-rated health (SRH), social anxiety (SA), and physical activity (PA) in a sample of female Chinese university students, employing both variable-centered and person-centered approaches.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 1,452 female Chinese university students who completed the Self-Perceived Health Scale (to measure SRH), the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale–6 and the Social Phobia Scale–6 (to measure SA), and a validated single-item measure of PA (to measure PA). First, a mediation model was used to test the indirect effect of SRH on PA through SA. Second, Latent Profile Analysis was conducted to identify distinct subgroups based on individuals’ SRH and SA levels. Finally, ANOVA was used to examine PA differences across the identified profiles.Results: The mediation analysis revealed that SA partially mediated the relationship between SRH and PA, accounting for 12% of the total effect (CI [0.011, 0.090]). The Latent Profile Analysis identified three distinct profiles: “Healthy-Resilient” (21.62%), characterized by high SRH and low SA; “Moderate-Adapting” (70.39%), with average SRH and SA; and “Unhealthy-Anxious” (7.99%), with low SRH and high SA. The “Unhealthy-Anxious” group reported significantly lower levels of PA than the other two groups.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that SA is a significant psychological mechanism linking SRH to PA among female Chinese university students. From a public health perspective, these findings highlight the importance of addressing mental health factors, such as SA, in interventions designed to promote PA in this population. The identification of distinct subgroups underscores the need for tailored interventions over one-size-fits-all approaches.

Objective: Negative emotions (NE) are strongly linked to disordered eating among female university students, yet the underlying mechanisms require further clarification. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NE and eating behavior (EB) within this population, specifically examining the mediating role of physical exercise (PE) and exploring the latent profiles of NE through a person-centered approach.Methods: An online survey was administered to 832 female university students, from which 789 valid responses were analyzed. We utilized the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), the Sakata Eating Behavior Scale short form (EBS-SF), and a single-item PE measure. The data were analyzed using mediation analysis with bootstrapping and Latent Profile Analysis (LPA).Results: NE was significantly and positively related to problematic EB (β = 0.414, p < 0.001) and negatively related to PE (β = −0.390, p < 0.001), while PE was negatively related to EB (β = −0.086, p < 0.05). PE was confirmed as a partial mediator in the NE-EB relationship (indirect effect = 0.034). Furthermore, LPA identified three distinct NE profiles: an “Emotionally Stable” group (16.86%), a “Transition Risk” group (51.33%), and an “Anxious-Distress” group (31.81%), with these profiles exhibiting significant differences in both EB (F = 65.088) and PE (F = 55.241).Conclusion: Female university students can be classified into three distinct emotional profiles (“Emotionally Stable,” “Transition Risk,” and “Anxious-Distress”), which are significantly associated with different levels of physical exercise and problematic eating behaviors. In addition, NE is not only directly associated with EB but also indirectly linked to it by reducing engagement in PE. This finding indicates that health interventions targeting female college students with high NE should, in addition to emotional management, actively promote the development of PE habits to effectively block the pathway from NE to unhealthy eating behaviors. The conclusions should be considered in light of the study’s cross-sectional design and its reliance on a single-item measure for PE.