Parent–child conflict and internet gaming addiction among Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation analysis

Abstract

The current study examined whether psychological needs satisfaction mediated the link between parent–child conflict and internet gaming addiction (IGA) and whether this mediating process was moderated by deviant peer affiliation. A sample of 656 junior high school students completed questionnaires in their classrooms to assess the study variables. The results showed that parent–child conflict was linked to IGA in part because of psychological needs frustration, and deviant peer affiliation was a risk factor that intensified this effect. Specifically, the adverse impact of parent–child conflict on IGA through psychological needs satisfaction was stronger in adolescents with higher deviant peer affiliation than those with lower deviant peer affiliation. These findings highlight the need to consider family, peer, and individual factors together to prevent and intervene in adolescents’ IGA.