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Authors and Correspondence
Hao-jie Zuo and Fan-zheng Mu contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence: Shi-hai Yu (email: 340385266@qq.com) and Bo Li (email: wangqiulibo@163.com).
Abstract
Objective
Investigates the relationship between emotional management ability and sleep quality in university students.
Examines the chain-mediating roles of physical exercise and electronic health literacy.
Provides a theoretical and practical basis for addressing sleep issues in university students.
Methods
Utilized 2022 data from the China Physical Activity and Health Longitudinal Study - College Students (CPAHLS-CS).
Included four applied universities: Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Yangzhou University, Shangqiu College, and Yangzhou Polytechnic College.
Applied stratified random sampling to ensure a representative sample.
Measurement tools: Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI), Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), and Electronic Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS).
Data analysis performed using SPSS 26.0, controlling for confounding variables (gender, grade, smoking, alcohol use).
Results
Emotional management ability negatively correlated with sleep quality (β = -0.051, p < 0.001).
Physical exercise and electronic health literacy serve as chain mediators.
Total effect value: -0.042 (95% CI [-0.059, -0.025]).
Direct effect value: -0.051 (95% CI [-0.070, -0.031]).
Indirect effect value: 0.009 (95% CI [-0.003, 0.019]).
Introduction
Background
Sleep quality among Chinese residents is declining, impacting both health and societal progress.
Sleep patterns of university students are reflective of broader psychosocial challenges.
The ‘2024 White Paper on Sleep Health’ indicates:
Average sleep duration: 6.75 hours.
64% experience sleep-related difficulties; 59% suffer from insomnia.
University students face unique pressures that exacerbate sleep issues, particularly those born in the 2000s.
Importance of Study
Sleep quality is a crucial measure of physical and mental wellbeing, directly impacting academic performance and health.
Chronic sleep restriction has various health consequences, including reduced life expectancy and increased susceptibility to disease.
The Healthy China Action (2019–2030) aims for adults to maintain 7-8 hours of sleep daily.
Strong correlation observed between emotional management ability and sleep quality.
Emotional Management Ability
Defines ability to handle emotions positively, reducing anxiety and stress that interfere with sleep.
Students with better emotional management can prioritize tasks effectively, avoiding procrastination and sleep deprivation.
Research supports a connection between emotional regulation and sleep quality:
Longitudinal studies show emotional difficulties worsen sleep.
Strategies like cognitive reappraisal improve sleep.
Measurement Variance
Variations in measurement methods (EIS, ERQ) can lead to different findings regarding sleep and emotional regulation relationships.
Cultural factors affect emotional expression, particularly in collectivist societies like China, where implicit regulation is common.
Integrating Variables
Previous literature has not comprehensively examined emotional management, physical exercise, and health literacy together.
This study addresses gaps by incorporating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Health Belief Model (HBM) to explore how these factors interact.
Research Questions
Does emotional management ability significantly affect sleep quality?
Do physical exercise and electronic health literacy mediate this relationship?
What are the implications of these variables in undergraduates' behaviours and sleep quality?
Theory and Hypothesis Development
Emotional Management
Emotions categorized into positive and negative, influencing behavioral responses.
Students under stress face increased negative emotions hindering sleep.
Effective emotional management can mitigate stress and coexist positively, improving sleep through various mechanisms.
Hypothesis 1: Emotional management positively correlates with sleep quality in students.
Mediating Role of Physical Exercise
Physical activity's influence on health behaviour, possessing motivational factors enhanced by emotional management as per TPB:
Positive attitudes towards exercise relate to emotional well-being and behavioral intention.
Hypothesis 2: Physical exercise mediates the effect of emotional management on sleep quality.
Mediating Role of Electronic Health Literacy
Defined as the ability to utilise online health resources effectively.
High electronic health literacy produces better health-related behaviors, positively impacting sleep quality.
Hypothesis 3: Electronic health literacy mediates the effect of emotional management on sleep quality.
Chain Mediation Hypothesis
Investigating the interplay between physical exercise and electronic health literacy within the emotional management framework.
Hypothesis 4: Chain mediation exists between emotional management → physical exercise → electronic health literacy → sleep quality.
Methods
Data Sources
Utilized CPAHLS-CS data, which presents a representative sample of Chinese university students.
Stratified random sampling from four distinct application-oriented universities.
Minimum sample size calculated at 1107, arriving at 7186 valid respondents post-criteria assessment.
Variable Measurement
Emotional Management Ability (EIS):
33 items evaluating perception, understanding, regulation, and utilization of emotions rated from 1-5.
Higher scores denote higher emotional intelligence.
Reliability coefficient: 0.83 indicating good reliability.
Sleep Quality (PSQI):
19 self-rated items measuring seven sleep quality components from 0-3 scoring.
Scores categorize sleep as good, average, or poor.
Reliability: Cronbach’s α coefficient of 0.87.
Physical Exercise (PARS-3):
Assesses intensity, duration, and frequency.
Rated from 1 (never) to 5 (often).
Higher scores correlate with greater physical exercise.
Electronic Health Literacy (eHEALS):
8 items assessing competitive abilities in understanding online health information rated from 1-5.
Higher total scores indicate better health literacy with reliability coefficients between 0.81 and 0.86.
Control Variables
Demographic variables include gender and academic year, with behavioral controls on smoking and drinking.
Statistical Analysis
Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS macro, employing bootstrap methods for mediation effects to manage potential biases.
Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and regression analyses conducted to validate hypothesized relationships.
Results
Descriptive Analysis
Significant associations found among sleep quality, physical exercise, emotional management abilities by gender and grade levels.
Correlation Analysis
Emotional management ability negatively correlated with sleep quality.
Statistical significance confirmed across multiple variables.
Regression Analysis
Emotional management positively predicts both electronic health literacy and physical exercise.
Insights on the chain-mediated effect observed in multiple paths between the evaluated variables.
Mediation Analysis
Total, direct, and indirect effects of emotional management on sleep quality assessed with comparative significance noted for the chain mediation effect.
Discussion
Summary of Findings
Emotional management ability significantly correlates with sleep quality, with critical mediating roles played by physical exercise and electronic health literacy.
Cultural differences and gender influence how emotional management abilities affect sleep quality, necessitating targeted interventions.
Interventions and Future Research
Emphasizes cultivating emotional management capabilities through courses and programs designed for university students.
Recommendations for longitudinal studies to discover causality and deeper connections within student demographics across regions.
Limitations
Acknowledges the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, geographical constraints affecting sample diversity, and the scope of mediating factors considered.
Conclusion
The study presents a robust connection between emotional management ability and sleep quality, mediated through both physical exercise and electronic health literacy among university students. Future efforts should explore broader variable interactions and varying cultural influences to validate the objectives identified in this research.