Data for latent profile analysis

University students have attracted extensive attention from researchers due to a series of problems caused by improper use of mobile phones. Freshmen who have just entered universities are at risk of maladaptation, and they may seek self-belonging and identity from their mobile phones, which may lead to mobile phone dependence and affects their mental health. In this study, based on the mobile phone addiction index scale (MPAI) and the student adaptation to college questionnaire (SACQ) completed by 981 Chinese university freshmen (M_age= 18.17, <i>SD </i>= 0.73), we explored the relationship between different classes of mobile phone dependence of Chinese university freshmen and adaptability using latent profile analysis, multiple logistic regression, and multiple variance analysis. The results showed that there were three latent profiles of freshmen’s mobile phone dependence, namely, low dependence (19.7%), moderate dependence (54.3%), and high dependence (26.0%). Further analysis showed that demographic factors such as gender, place of origin, years of mobile phone ownership, and average daily time of mobile phone use had significant effects on the mobile phone dependence of freshmen. The latent profiles of mobile phone dependence had a significant impact on the adaptability of freshmen. Specifically, freshmen with low dependence had the highest adaptability, followed by freshmen with moderate and high dependence. Therefore, university freshmen’s mobile phone dependence has three classes and is closely related to their adaptability. The study results will provide an empirical basis for universities to prevent and control mobile phone dependence of freshmen, and to develop effective adaption education.