The Relationship Between College Students' Sense of Social Connection and Insomnia during the COVID-19 Lockdown in China：A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

Abstract The lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic may have exacerbated mental health problems. This study aimed to explore the mediating and moderating effects of rumination and exercise between social connectedness and insomnia. A cross sectional survey was employed, a total of 10097 Chinese students completed social connectedness (SCS-R), total active time (IPAQ-SF), rumination and insomnia severity (ISI). The results revealed that: (1) social connectedness had a significant direct predictive effect on insomnia in college students (β = -0.19, t=-48.31, p<0.01), can also indirectly predict the level of insomnia through the mediation of rumination (β = -0.13, t = -32.41, p<0.01). (2) The direct effect of social connectedness on insomnia and the mediating effect of rumination were moderated by exercise. This study supports the view that insomnia may be aggravated during lockdown, which was associated with a decreased sense of social connectedness.