Childhood abuse experiences can increase the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms in medical college students, and can also indirectly raise the level of depression and anxiety symptoms through the chain mediating role of mobile phone dependence and sleep quality.
The detection rates of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms among Anhui medical college students were 8.49% and 9.48%, respectively.
After controlling for anxiety symptoms, childhood abuse experiences showed significant positive correlations with mobile phone dependence, sleep quality, and depression symptoms.
Mobile phone dependence was significantly positively correlated with both sleep quality and depression symptoms.
After controlling for depression symptoms, childhood abuse experiences showed significant positive correlations with mobile phone dependence, sleep quality, and anxiety symptoms.
Mobile phone dependence and sleep quality played a significant chain mediating role between childhood abuse experiences and depression symptoms.
Mobile phone dependence and sleep quality played a significant chain mediating role between childhood abuse experiences and anxiety symptoms.
This research suggests that medical college students in Anhui, China who experienced childhood abuse (such as physical, emotional, or sexual maltreatment) are at greater risk for depression and anxiety. Among the 3,662 first-year students followed over one year, about 8-9% showed symptoms of depression or anxiety. The study found that childhood abuse was directly linked to higher levels of these mental health problems, but also that this relationship was partly explained by two intermediate factors: excessive mobile phone use and poor sleep quality. Specifically, students who had experienced childhood abuse were more likely to develop problematic mobile phone use habits, which in turn was associated with poorer sleep, which then contributed to higher levels of depression and anxiety. This chain — abuse leading to phone dependence, then poor sleep, then mental health symptoms — accounted for roughly 23% of the total effect of childhood abuse on both depression and anxiety. This means that while childhood abuse has a direct harmful effect on mental health, a meaningful portion of that harm is channeled through unhealthy phone use patterns and disrupted sleep. This research suggests that interventions targeting problematic mobile phone use and improving sleep quality could help reduce the mental health burden carried by young adults who experienced childhood abuse. Screening for childhood trauma among college students, combined with programs to promote healthy digital habits and better sleep, may be important strategies for mental health support in this population.
Cao X, Li S, Li X, Liu Y, Deng T, Xuan M, et al.. (2026). [Impact of Anhui medical college students' childhood abuse experiences on depression and anxiety symptoms: The mediating role of mobile phone dependence and sleep quality].. Wei sheng yan jiu = Journal of hygiene research. https://doi.org/10.19813/j.cnki.weishengyanjiu.2025.06.011