The effect of mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan on mobile phone addiction among male college students is associated with executive functions.
Jizhao Li, Dongling Wang, Shuang Bai, Wanjiao Yang
PLoS One 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314211 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 66 |
| Population | Male college students |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Addiction Meditation |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | An 8-week MTCC intervention significantly reduced mobile phone addiction in male college students, with improved inhibition partially mediating this effect. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan (MTCC) have been shown to contribute to improvements in cognitive and executive functions. Changes in inhibition, an aspect of executive function, have been closely linked to mobile phone addiction. However, the relationship between these elements remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of an 8-week MTCC intervention on executive function, mindfulness levels, and mobile phone addiction in male college students. Additionally, the study explores the role of executive function in improving mobile phone addiction through MTCC interventions. Sixty-six male college students were selected as research subjects and randomly divided into a control group (33) and an experimental group (33). The control group maintained their normal physical activity levels without any additional intervention. In contrast, the experimental group underwent 8 weeks of MTCC training. Mindfulness levels were assessed using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), while mobile phone addiction was evaluated by the Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI). The Flanker task, 1-back task, and More-Odd Shifting task were employed to evaluate inhibition, updating, and shifting aspects of executive function, respectively. (1) The 8-week MTCC intervention significantly improved mobile phone addiction among male college students, with the intervention group showing a lower post-intervention MPAI score (46.09 ± 18.11) compared to the control group (56.55 ± 16.02), yielding a mean difference of -10.46 (95% CI: -18.92 to -1.99, p = 0.016). Mindfulness levels also improved significantly (p = 0.046), as did specific sub-functions of executive function: inhibition correct rate (p < 0.001), inhibition response (p = 0.001), and shifting correct rate (p = 0.001). No significant effects were observed for updating correct rate (p = 0.527) or updating response (p = 0.303). (2) Mobile phone addiction indices were significantly correlated with changes in inhibition response (r = 0.756, p = 0.000 < 0.01), updating response (r = 0.035, p = 0.045 < 0.05), and shifting response (r = 0.397, p = 0.022 < 0.05). (3) Mindfulness levels and inhibition levels were significantly correlated (r = 0.394, p = 0.023 < 0.05). (4) Changes in inhibition within executive functions partially mediated the improvement of mobile phone addiction, with the direct effect (0.716) and mediating effect (0.483) accounting for 59.72% and 40.28% of the total effect (1.199), respectively. MTCC exercises significantly increase cognitive functions, leading to increased inhibition and attentiveness, and may be helpful in the prevention of addictions, including cell phone addictions.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on addiction, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Mindfulness-based and mindfulness-informed interventions for internet use disorders in adolescents and young adults: A three-level random-effects meta-analysis Journal of Behavioral Addictions September 18, 2026
- Linking mindfulness to phubbing among college students: a longitudinal mediation analysis of attentional control and dual-system self-control. Australian Journal of Psychology May 8, 2026
Cites 4
- Effects of a group mindfulness-based cognitive programme on smartphone addictive symptoms and resilience among adolescents: study protocol of a cluster-randomized controlled trial BMC Nursing June 5, 2021
- The Effect of Meditation-Based Mind-Body Interventions on Symptoms and Executive Function in People With ADHD: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Journal of Attention Disorders February 20, 2023
- Effectiveness of a nurse-led Mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan (MTCC) program on Posttraumatic Growth and perceived stress and anxiety of breast cancer survivors European Journal of Psychotraumatology February 3, 2022
- Central and autonomic nervous system interaction is altered by short-term meditation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences June 2, 2009