Peer Victimization and Problematic Online Game Use Among Chinese Adolescents: The Dual Mediating Effect of Deviant Peer Affiliation and School Connectedness

Hao Li; Xiong Gan; Guo-Xing Xiang; Ting Zhou; Pinyi Wang; Xin Jin; Congshu Zhu

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.823762

Frontiers in Psychology (Mar 2022)

Peer Victimization and Problematic Online Game Use Among Chinese Adolescents: The Dual Mediating Effect of Deviant Peer Affiliation and School Connectedness

Hao Li,
Xiong Gan,
Guo-Xing Xiang,
Ting Zhou,
Pinyi Wang,
Xin Jin,
Congshu Zhu

Affiliations

Hao Li: Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
Xiong Gan: Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
Guo-Xing Xiang: Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
Ting Zhou: Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
Pinyi Wang: Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
Xin Jin: Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University College of Technology and Engineering, Jingzhou, China
Congshu Zhu: Department of Psychology, College of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.823762
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13

Abstract

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Abundant evidence has proved an association between peer victimization and problematic online game use (POGU). However, the underlying mechanisms of this relation are still under-investigated. Grounded in the ecological system theory, this study examined whether deviant peer affiliation (DPA) and school connectedness mediated the association between peer victimization and adolescent POGU. A sample of 698 Chinese adolescents completed questionnaires regarding peer victimization, problematic online game use, DPA, and school connectedness, of which 51.58% were boys. Path analyses indicated that peer victimization was positively associated with problematic online game use, and this link could be mediated by deviant peer affiliation and school connectedness. The findings identify the potential underlying mechanism by which peer victimization is associated with adolescent problematic online game use, which has important implications for theory and prevention.

Published in Frontiers in Psychology

ISSN: 1664-1078 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology

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