The influence of interpersonal competence on smartphone addiction: the moderating role of football participation.

The rapid aging of the global population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases pose significant challenges to public health worldwide []. In China, the burden of chronic diseases among the older adult population is particularly severe. A cross-sectional study reported that 42% of middle-aged and older (aged 45 and above) individuals had chronic conditions, with a comorbidity prevalence of 16.8% []. Over two decades, the prevalence of chronic diseases among older participants rose markedly from 51.8% in 1998 to 62.3% in 2018 []. Living with chronic conditions significantly affects health-related quality of life (HR QoL) and well-being []. Enhancing the QoL of this vulnerable population is critical not only for improving individual well-being but also for mitigating the societal and economic burdens associated with chronic diseases []. In China, with the release of a series of policies to promote the health of the whole population, such as the “Healthy China 2030” Plan Outline, which emphasizes the promotion of health literacy and the improvement of population health and quality of life. In this context, understanding the determinants of HR QoL among middle-aged and older patients with chronic diseases is both academically and practically important. While clinical interventions remain crucial, the psychosocial factors influencing HR QoL warrant deeper exploration to develop comprehensive, patient-centered care strategies []. Personality traits, as stable and enduring characteristics, shape individuals’ cognition, behavior, and coping mechanisms in the face of health challenges []. The Five-Factor Model is widely recognized as an adequate conceptualization of the structure of personality traits, which is believed to capture, to a reasonable extent, the variation in personality characteristics across individuals []. Traits such as Conscientiousness and Neuroticism are particularly relevant in the context of chronic disease management, influencing health behaviors, coping strategies, and interactions with healthcare systems [, ]. For example, Conscientiousness is associated with disciplined health behaviors [], whereas Neuroticism may exacerbate stress and maladaptive coping, potentially diminishing HR QoL []. Among the various personality theories, the Five-Factor Model (FFM) has emerged as the most widely accepted and empirically validated framework for understanding personality in health-related research. Despite these established associations, how personality traits are associated with HR QoL, particularly among individuals with chronic diseases, remains inadequately understood. Therefore, the current research focuses in particular on Conscientiousness and Neuroticism.