Abstract
This study aims to investigate the mediating role of anxiety in the relationship between experiential avoidance and BrainRot among teenagers, as well as the moderating effect of physical exercise on the relationship between experiential avoidance and anxiety. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and March 2024 using convenience sampling from seven schools across five provinces in China. A total of 4058 participants (2020 boys and 2038 girls) were included, with a mean age of 13.06 ± 3.97 years. Data on experiential avoidance, BrainRot, anxiety, and physical exercise were collected using self-reported questionnaires. Correlation analyses were performed, and a moderated mediation model was constructed to examine the relationships among these variables. After controlling for participants' grade level, age, and gender, the study found that experiential avoidance significantly predicted BrainRot among teenagers (β = 0.542, p < 0.001). This predictive effect remained significant even after incorporating anxiety as a mediating variable (β = 0.312, p < 0.001). Additionally, physical exercise moderated the relationship between experiential avoidance and anxiety (β = - 0.048, p < 0.001), indicating that physical exercise attenuated the impact of experiential avoidance on anxiety. Experiential avoidance predicts BrainRot in teenagers through anxiety, and physical exercise can mitigate this predictive relationship. It is recommended that guardians of teenagers pay closer attention to those experiencing anxiety to reduce the negative impact of adverse mental health issues and prevent the occurrence of BrainRot.