How Does Mobile Phone Addiction Undermine School Adjustment Among College Freshmen? A Dual Systems Model Perspective on Self-Control

Background: The transition to university presents multiple challenges for freshmen. Mobile phone addiction (MPA) has been identified as a risk factor for school adjustment; however, its longitudinal effects and underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Methods: This study employed a four-month longitudinal design involving 502 first-year students (51.6% male; Mage = 18.78) from a public university in China. The associations among MPA, self-control (impulse and control systems), and school adjustment were examined. Results: MPA was negatively associated with school adjustment. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that both the impulse and control systems served as parallel mediators. Multi-group SEM further indicated that the mediation model was invariant across gender. Conclusions: The findings provide longitudinal evidence that MPA may impair school adjustment via dual self-control pathways. Interventions targeting MPA reduction and self-control enhancement may support smoother transition to university life for freshmen.