Objective:

To investigate the relationships and internal mechanisms among mobile phone addiction, friendship quality, preference for solitude, depression, and anxiety in college students.

Approach:

• Participants: 1083 Chinese college students (58.2% female; mean age = 19.87 ± 1.692 years) were included.
• Data Collection: Data were collected using the Mobile Phone Addiction Index, Friendship Quality Questionnaire, Preference for Solitude Questionnaire, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale.
• Data Analysis: Data processing and analyses were conducted using SPSS 26.0 and the PROCESS macro.

Key Findings:

• Mobile phone addiction was significantly negatively correlated with friendship quality and positively correlated with depression and anxiety.
• Friendship quality was significantly negatively correlated with depression and anxiety.
• Preference for solitude was significantly positively correlated with depression and anxiety.
• Mobile phone addiction predicted depression and anxiety directly and through the mediating role of friendship quality.
• Preference for solitude moderated the effects of mobile phone addiction on depression and anxiety.

Interpretation:

Friendship quality serves as a mediating pathway between mobile phone addiction and depressive and anxiety symptoms, with preference for solitude amplifying these associations.

Limitations:

• The study is limited to Chinese college students, which may affect generalizability.
• Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.

Conclusion:

Friendship quality is a significant mediator in the relationship between mobile phone addiction and mental health issues among college students.