The mediating role of impulsivity in the relationship between multiple screen addiction and nighttime eating behaviors among adolescents

Objective This study examined whether impulsivity mediates the association between multiple screen addiction and nighttime eating behaviors among adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional design was used with 1247 adolescents recruited through purposive venue-based sampling with socioeconomic stratification in eastern Turkey province. Multiple screen addiction, impulsivity, and nighttime eating behaviors were assessed using validated self-report scales. A latent-variable structural equation model was tested, with age, gender, sleep duration, BMI z-score, and perceived socioeconomic status as covariates. Mediation was tested using bootstrap resampling (5000 resamples). Results Multiple screen addiction was positively associated with both impulsivity (β = 0.272) and nighttime eating behaviors. Impulsivity partially mediated the association, accounting for approximately 28% of the total association, while the direct association between multiple screen addiction and nighttime eating behaviors remained the dominant pathway (approximately 72%). The structural model demonstrated acceptable fit (CFI = 0.924, RMSEA = 0.063, SRMR = 0.058). Conclusion Impulsivity represents one partial mechanism linking multiple screen addiction to nighttime eating behaviors in adolescents. Pediatric and school health nurses may benefit from incorporating assessment of multiple screen addiction and self-regulation into routine adolescent care. Findings should be interpreted within the regional context of a single eastern Turkey province. Implications for nursing practice Interventions targeting adolescent health should adopt a multidimensional approach that includes screen time management, promotion of healthy eating habits, and strengthening self-regulation skills. Early identification of at-risk adolescents and development of school- and community-based nursing interventions may help prevent maladaptive behavioral patterns.