Cumulative ecological risk and academic adjustment in freshmen: mediation by problematic mobile phone use and moderation by self-control

Meiqi Yu; Yanyu Xia; Weihao Ye; Jinjun Zhang; Yanan Gu

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1554500

Cumulative ecological risk and academic adjustment in freshmen: mediation by problematic mobile phone use and moderation by self-control

Front Psychol. 2025 Jun 13:16:1554500. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1554500. eCollection 2025.

Authors

Meiqi Yu¹, Yanyu Xia², Weihao Ye³, Jinjun Zhang¹, Yanan Gu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Center for Mental Health Development, China Jiliang University College of Modern Science and Technology, Zhejiang, China.
² Pinghu Normal College, Jiaxing University, Zhejiang, China.
³ Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Zhejiang, China.
⁴ Mental Health Center, Harbin Huade University, Heilongjiang, China.

Abstract

Introduction: Previous research has shown that multiple ecological risks, including family, school, peer, and societal risk factors, significantly affect students' academic adjustment. Based on Ecological systems theory, the present study explored the effect of cumulative ecological risk (CER) on freshmen's academic adjustment, the mediating role of problematic mobile phone use (PMPU), and the moderating role of self-control.

Methods: A total of 2,962 freshmen, of which 1,564 were male (52.80%), participated in this study and completed the Cumulative Ecological Risk Questionnaire, Chinese Version of the College Students' Problematic Mobile Network Usage Behavior Scale, Self-Control Scale, and Chinese Version of the Undergraduate's Learning Adjustment Test.

Results: The results showed that (1) there were significant correlations between CER, PMPU, self-control, and academic adjustment; (2) CER significantly negatively predicted freshmen's academic adjustment; (3) PMPU had a mediating effect between CER and academic adjustment; and (4) self-control moderated the effects of CER on both PMPU and academic adjustment.

Discussion: These results provide a theoretical and empirical basis for formulating appropriate countermeasures to enhance the academic adjustment of freshmen who face various ecological risks.

Keywords: academic adjustment; cumulative ecological risk; freshmen; problematic mobile phone use; self-control.