AI Insight
This study of 1,597 Chinese college students identified three distinct profiles based on self-control levels, smartphone addiction, and negative attentional bias, with each profile showing different associations with insomnia severity. Students with low self-control and high smartphone addiction showed the worst insomnia symptoms, while withdrawal behavior from smartphones and negative attentional bias emerged as the most influential factors in the psychological network connecting these variables. Network analysis revealed that these relationships remained structurally similar across all three student profiles.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that interventions targeting smartphone withdrawal behaviors and negative attention patterns may be particularly effective for reducing insomnia among college students. Understanding these distinct student profiles could help universities design personalized mental health strategies rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.
Understand the Science
BackgroundInsomnia symptoms are common among college students and may be associated with multiple psychological and behavioral characteristics. However, the relationships among self-control, smartphone addiction (SA), negative attentional bias, and insomnia symptoms remain unclear. This study aimed to identify latent profiles of self-control, SA, and negative attentional bias and further explore their network relationships with insomnia symptoms among college students.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,597 Chinese college students. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify profiles based on self-control, SA, and negative attentional bias. Multivariable linear regression examined the associations between latent profile membership and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) scores. Network analysis was performed to identify central and bridge nodes, and the network comparison test (NCT) was used to compare network structures across latent profiles.ResultsThree latent profiles were identified: the Moderate Self-Control–Moderate SA and Negative Attention Profile (75.20%), the Low Self-Control–High SA and Negative Attention Profile (10.83%), and the High Self-Control–Low SA and Negative Attention Profile (13.96%). Compared with the High Self-Control–Low SA and Negative Attention Profile, the Moderate Self-Control–Moderate SA and Negative Attention Profile (B = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.75–2.86) and the Low Self-Control–High SA and Negative Attention Profile (B = 4.04, 95% CI: 3.27–4.81) were significantly associated with higher AIS scores (both p < 0.001). SA1 (Withdrawal behavior) had the highest expected influence (EI) in the overall network and across all three profiles, and also exhibited the highest bridge strength in the overall network. APNI-N (Negative attention) showed the second-highest bridge strength. After false discovery rate correction, the NCT showed no significant differences in either overall network structure or global strength across the three profiles.ConclusionThree profiles of self-control, SA, and negative attentional bias were identified among college students and showed different associations with insomnia symptoms. Withdrawal behavior and negative attention emerged as important features of the psychological and behavioral network. These findings provide further insight into the joint patterns and interconnected characteristics associated with insomnia symptoms among college students.