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The relationship between bullying victimization and online game addiction among Chinese early adolescents: The potential role of meaning in life and gender differences

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  • Zhao, Haiyan
  • Li, Xiaofei
  • Zhou, Jianxiang
  • Nie, Qingqing
  • Zhou, Jianhua

Abstract

Although the risk effect of bullying victimization on youths’ online game addiction has been well established, little is known about the potential mediating and moderating mechanisms that account for the relationship between them. This study considered two dimensions of meaning in life (i.e., the presence of meaning and the search for meaning) as underlying mediating and moderating variables to explain the link between bullying victimization and online game addiction among Chinese early adolescents. We examined gender differences in these relationships. The sample included 1665 Chinese early adolescents (48.9% girls; Mage = 11.80 years, SD = 1.23) and their mothers. Latent structural equation modeling showed that the model for boys was consistent with moderation, that is, the presence of meaning buffered against the ill effects of bullying victimization on boys’ online game addiction, whereas the search for meaning amplified the association between bullying victimization and online game addiction. The model for girls was consistent with mediation, that is, the presence of meaning but not the search for meaning may have explained how victimization led to online game addiction. Suggested intervention and prevention strategies include helping youths enhance their sense of the presence of meaning and guiding male adolescents to search for positive and advanced meaning in life.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Haiyan & Li, Xiaofei & Zhou, Jianxiang & Nie, Qingqing & Zhou, Jianhua, 2020. "The relationship between bullying victimization and online game addiction among Chinese early adolescents: The potential role of meaning in life and gender differences," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:116:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920308604
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105261
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lee, Virginia & Robin Cohen, S. & Edgar, Linda & Laizner, Andrea M. & Gagnon, Anita J., 2006. "Meaning-making intervention during breast or colorectal cancer treatment improves self-esteem, optimism, and self-efficacy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(12), pages 3133-3145, June.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ning Ding & Xinwen Zhang, 2022. "Bullying Victimization and Quality of Life among Chinese Adolescents: An Integrative Analysis of Internet Addiction and Social Withdrawal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Seon, Youngwoon & Smith-Adcock, Sondra, 2023. "Adolescents’ meaning in life as a resilience factor between bullying victimization and life satisfaction," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    3. Jérémie Richard & Loredana Marchica & William Ivoska & Jeffrey Derevensky, 2021. "Bullying Victimization and Problem Video Gaming: The Mediating Role of Externalizing and Internalizing Problems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    4. Yi Wang & Ronnel King & Shing On Leung, 2023. "Understanding Chinese Students' Well-Being: A Machine Learning Study," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(2), pages 581-616, April.
    5. Gengfeng Niu & Siyu Jin & Fang Xu & Shanyan Lin & Zongkui Zhou & Claudio Longobardi, 2022. "Relational Victimization and Video Game Addiction among Female College Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Social Anxiety and Parasocial Relationship," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Zhou, Jianhua & Zhang, Lulu & Gong, Xue, 2023. "Longitudinal network relations between symptoms of problematic internet game use and internalizing and externalizing problems among Chinese early adolescents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    7. Xiang Li & Daniel T. L. Shek & Esther Y. W. Shek, 2021. "Offline Victimization, Psychological Morbidity, and Problematic Online Behavior among Chinese Secondary School Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-15, September.

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