Health Responsibility as Mediators between Digital Addiction and Health Behaviors-related Nutrition among Secondary School Female Students in Karbala, Iraq

Background: Digital addiction, characterized by excessive interaction with digital devices, poses risks to adolescents’ health behaviors, especially nutrition-related habits. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of health responsibility in relation to digital addiction and nutrition-related health behaviors among secondary school femalestudents in Karbala, Iraq.Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted in Karbala, Iraq, including ۳۶۸ female students from ۱۳ schools who were selected through simple and systematic random sampling methods. Data collection used a structured questionnaire consisted of sections on demographic characteristics, digital addiction, health behaviors related to nutrition, and health responsibility. Reliability and analysis were confirmed by a pilot study (Cronbach’s alpha=۰.۸۵).Results: Moderate level of digital addiction (۵۳.۵%), health responsibility (۵۵.۲%), and healthy behaviors related to nutrition (۷۳.۶%) were observed. Regression analysis revealed that health responsibility could negatively predict digital addictive behaviors (β=-۰.۱۴۳, p=۰.۰۰۶) and positively influenced nutrition-related health behaviors (β=۰.۵۸۵, p=۰.۰۰۰).Conclusion: This study provided empirical evidences to support the promotion of health responsibility as a preventive measure for digital addiction and the promotion of healthy eating behaviors. There is a needto promote health responsibility through targeted educational programs, parent engagement, and awareness campaigns that address digital addiction and nutrition.

کلیدواژه ها:

Digital Addiction ، Health responsibility ، Health behaviors ، Nutrition ، Adolescents