The Longitudinal Association Between Peer Victimization and Problematic Social Media Use Among Chinese College Students: Testing a Moderated Mediation Model

Kai Dou, Meng Li Wang, Yan Yu Li*, Xue Qing Yuan, Lin Xin Wang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Peer victimization serves as a risk factor contributing to emotional and behavioral problems among college students. However, limited research has investigated the longitudinal association between peer victimization and problematic social media use (PSMU), as well as its underlying mechanism. Drawing upon the compensatory internet use theory, self-determination theory, and the stress-buffering model, we assumed that fear of missing out (FoMO) could potentially serve as a mediating factor in the relationship between peer victimization and PSMU, while school belongingness may act as a moderator for these direct and indirect associations. A total of 553 Chinese college students (Mage = 21.87, SD = 1.07) were recruited to participate in a three-wave longitudinal study (6 months apart) and completed questionnaires assessing peer victimization (T1), school belongingness (T1), FoMO (T2), and PSMU (T3). With a moderated mediation model, the results indicated the following: (1) Controlling for demographic variables, T1 peer victimization was positively and significantly associated with T3 PSMU; (2) T1 peer victimization also influenced T3 PSMU indirectly by increasing both two dimensions of T2 FoMO; (3) T1 school belongingness significantly moderated the mediating effect of T2 fear of missing social opportunities. Specifically, the indirect effect of peer victimization on PSMU via fear of missing social opportunities was found to be more pronounced when the level of school belongingness was lower. These findings are of great value in extending the studies regarding the multi-systematical risk factors causing PSMU and providing the scientific reference for the prevention and intervention of PSMU among Chinese college students.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 2024
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

Funding

FundersFunder number
Plan of Philosophy and Social Science of Guangdong Province

    Keywords

    • College students
    • Fear of missing out
    • Peer victimization
    • Problematic social media use
    • School belongingness

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