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Liu J, Wu L, Sun X, Bai X, Duan C. Active Parental Mediation and Adolescent Problematic Internet Use: The Mediating Role of Parent-Child Relationships and Hiding Online Behavior. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:679. [PMID: 37622819 PMCID: PMC10451844 DOI: 10.3390/bs13080679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In today's information society, with the growing integration of the Internet into individuals' lives, problematic Internet use (PIU) among adolescents has become more prevalent. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the correlation between active parental mediation and PIU in adolescents, as well as the potential mediating roles of parent-child relationship and adolescents' hiding online behavior. A total of 539 middle school students (mean age = 13.384) were recruited for this study and participated by completing a series of paper-and-pencil questionnaires. The findings indicated a significant negative relationship between active parental mediation and PIU. Furthermore, both the mediating role of the parent-child relationship and the role of hiding online behavior were found to be significant. Specifically, the mediating role is comprised of two paths: the independent mediating role of the parent-child relationship, and the sequential mediating role involving both the parent-child relationship and hiding online behavior. The study contributes an innovative theoretical perspective to deepen the understanding of the formation mechanism of PIU. Moreover, it offers practical empirical insights for the prevention and intervention of PIU among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Liu
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; (J.L.); (X.B.); (C.D.)
- Department of Students’ Affairs, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224007, China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Li Wu
- School of Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China;
- Beijing Normal University Collaboration Innovation Center, Central China Normal University Branch, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Xiaojun Sun
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; (J.L.); (X.B.); (C.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
- Beijing Normal University Collaboration Innovation Center, Central China Normal University Branch, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Xuqing Bai
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; (J.L.); (X.B.); (C.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Changying Duan
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; (J.L.); (X.B.); (C.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
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Yang W, Tang L, Shen X, Niu G, Shi X, Jin S, Zhang Y, Yuan Z. Parental Phubbing and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms during COVID-19: A Serial Meditating Model. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:bs13050371. [PMID: 37232608 DOI: 10.3390/bs13050371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, depressive symptoms, a common emotional problem among adolescents, have become more prominent. Regarding the influencing factors of adolescent depressive symptoms, it is widely accepted that parents' problematic cellphone use around the family (specifically parental phubbing) is a strong predictive factor for the development of depressive symptoms among adolescents. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp increase in the number of individuals with depressive symptoms, and the negative consequences of parental phubbing and depressive symptoms might have been exacerbated. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the association between parental phubbing and adolescent depressive symptoms as well as their underlying mechanism. METHOD To test our hypotheses, we conducted an offline/online survey with 614 adolescents in Central China from May to June 2022, which corresponded to a period of strict lockdowns in some areas due to the outbreak of the Omicron variant. The participants completed a set of measures, including a technology interference questionnaire, a parent-child relationship scale, a self-concept clarity scale, and the depressive symptoms scale. RESULTS Parental phubbing was positively associated with adolescent depressive symptoms; the parent-child relationship and self-concept clarity could independently mediate this relationship; and the parent-child relationship and self-concept clarity were also serial mediators in this association. These findings extend previous research by highlighting the impact of parental technology use on their children and the underlying mechanism explaining adolescent depressive symptoms. They provide practical recommendations for parents to prioritize fostering a positive family environment and minimizing phubbing behaviors to enhance adolescent development, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencheng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Lu Tang
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Lingui Middle School, Guilin 541100, China
| | - Xiangping Shen
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Gengfeng Niu
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Central China Normal University Branch, Wuhan 430079, China
- Center for Research on Internet Literacy and Behavior, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Xiaohan Shi
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Siyu Jin
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Yumang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Zihui Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
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