Objective: This paper discussed possible mechanisms of mobile phone addiction on mental health of vocational college students, and to explore the role of selfcontrol and selfesteem in this association. Methods: Totally 898 vocational college students from Liaocheng, Kunming and Wuhan were selected by random cluster sampling. Subjects were investigated with the Mobile Phone Addiction Index, DepressionAnxietyStress Scale (short version), SelfControl Scale, and SelfEsteem Scale. Results: About 27.6% of the participants selfreported mobile phone addiction. Mobile phone addiction score (45.80±10.41)was positively correlated with mental health(36.18±9.13)(P<0.01). A significant negative correlation was found between mobile addiction tendency with selfcontrol and selfesteem (both P<0.01). Male students scored higher on depression, anxiety and stress than female students(t=3.57, P<0.01). Selfcontrol played a partial intermediary role in the association between mobile phone addiction and mental health(β=-0.36, P<0.01). The influence of mobile phone addiction tendency on depression and stress were moderated by selfesteem. Conclusion Mobile phone addiction has a direct and indirect effect on mental health through selfcontrol. With increasing level of selfesteem, effect of mobile phone addiction on mental health tends to become weaker.