Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
The Screen Era has completely reshaped the daily lives of college and university students, making screen time, physical activity, and mental health a complex interplay.
Aim
. This research aimed to explore the multidimensional impact of digital screen behaviors on psychological distress among university students and to test the moderating role of physical activity and the moderating impact of physical activity on adverse mental health outcomes of digital immersion.
Methods
The study was conducted using a quantitative cross-sectional design with 614 undergraduate students from Minia National University, Egypt. The instruments that were validated were the multidimensional Screen Exposure Scale, the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). Demographic covariates were controlled for hierarchical multiple regression analyses to assess predictive relationships and moderation effects.
Results
Mobile screen use for recreation and pre-sleep predicted depression, anxiety, and stress (β = 0.28–0.35, p Conclusion
Psychological distress among university students is significantly associated with specific patterns of digital immersion and physical activity levels. University administrators should implement targeted strategies to mitigate high-risk screen behaviors and integrate structured physical activity programs into campus wellness initiatives to enhance students' psychological well-being.