This study proposed a moderated mediation model to investigate the association between COVID-19 victimization experience and mobile phone addiction, the mediating role of future anxiety, and the moderating role of mindfulness. This study employed the COVID-19 victimization experience scale, the mobile phone addiction scale, a future anxiety scale, and a mindfulness scale in a survey study among Chinese college students; 840 valid questionnaires were received. The reliability and confirmatory factor analysis results showed that all four scales had good reliability and validity. Bootstrap results demonstrated that COVID-19 victimization experience significantly predicted mobile phone addiction in college students (B = 0.202, LLCI = 0.136, ULCI = 0.268). Future anxiety fully mediated the association between COVID-19 victimization experience and mobile phone addiction (B = 0.178, LLCI = 0.136, ULCI = 0.222). Mindfulness moderated the effect of COVID-19 victimization experience on the college students’ future anxiety (B = 0.159, LLCI = 0.007, ULCI = 0.054). A higher level of mindfulness was more likely than a lower level of mindfulness to attenuate the effect of COVID-19 victimization experience on the college students’ future anxiety. These findings broaden our understanding regarding the association between COVID-19 victimization experience and mobile phone addiction and the moderating role of mindfulness.

The present study investigated the correlation between improper use of the mobile phone (IUMP) and anxiety in the aftermath of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. It examined the mediation and moderation effects of mindfulness on this correlation. IUMP, anxiety, and mindfulness were measured in 575 university students. The results indicated that in the aftermath of the pandemic, IUMP emerged as a significant predictor of anxiety among university students. Furthermore, mindfulness moderated and mediated the correlation between IUMP and anxiety. Students demonstrating greater mindfulness capacity exhibited proportionally diminished anxiety levels. Our evidence offers critical guidance for developing targeted interventions to mitigate university students’ psychological challenges.