Perceived stress increases online aggressive behavior among Chinese adolescents: evidence from a moderated mediation analysis

Popularity is of great developmental significance to early adolescents for its implications on behavioral and adjustment outcomes. Although extensive research on popularity has been conducted in Western cultures, little is known about Chinese adolescents’ indigenous understanding of popularity. The current study examined Chinese early adolescents’ understanding of popularity using focus group interviews to explore the characteristics of popularity and unpopularity, as well as popularity determinants for boys and girls. We conducted interviews on six focus groups comprising 37 Chinese fifth and sixth graders (18 boys, 19 girls). Transcriptions were coded and analyzed through developing coding schemes that included emerged codes and categories. The results showed both cross-cultural similarities and culturally specific findings in adolescents’ perceptions of popularity characteristics and determinants. Specifically, sociability, academic performance, and prosocial behaviors served as major characteristics of popularity, whereas aggressive and disruptive behaviors were regarded as typical attributes of unpopularity. More importantly, culturally unique aspects of popularity characteristics were reported by Chinese adolescents, such as a strong sense of collective honor. When responding what would make a peer popular, Chinese early adolescents reported various behavioral, social, and cultural factors. Findings of this study underscore the importance of examining perceptions of popularity in consideration of the cultural context.

In the current study, we examined a moderated mediation model using the risk and resilience framework. Specifically, the impact of family material hardship on adolescent problem behaviors was examined in a Chinese sample; we used the family stress model framework to investigate parental depression and negative parenting as potential mediators of the relation between family material hardship and adolescents’ problem behaviors. In addition, based on resilience theory, we investigated adolescents’ resilience as a potential protective factor in the development of their internalizing and externalizing problems. Participants included 1,419 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 15.38 years, SD = 1.79) and their primary caregivers. After controlling for covariates (age, gender, location of family residence, and primary caregiver), we found that parental depression and negative parenting mediated the association between family material hardship and adolescents’ problem behaviors. Furthermore, the adolescent resilience moderated the relationship between negative parenting and internalizing problems in a protective-stabilizing pattern; in addition, a protective-reactive pattern also emerged when adolescent resilience was examined as a moderator of the relationship between negative parenting and externalizing problems. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of risk and resilience in youth development. Moreover, the findings have important implications for the prevention of adolescent problem behaviors.

The present study investigated the mediating role of negative emotion in the relationship between cybervictimization and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and the moderating role of friendship quality in the indirect relationship. This model was tested with 1,326 Chinese adolescents who suffered from cyberbullying in the last 1 year; 727 were boys and 591 were girls, and their mean age was 13.67 years (SD = 1.34, range 11–17). Participants filled out questionnaires regarding cybervictimization, negative emotion, friendship quality, and non-suicidal self-injury. After demographic variables were controlled, cybervictimization was significantly positively associated with non-suicidal self-injury. Mediation analysis revealed that negative emotion partially mediated the association between cybervictimization and non-suicidal self-injury. Moderated mediation analysis further indicated that the mediated path was weaker for adolescents with higher levels of friendship quality. These findings underscore the importance of identifying the mechanisms that moderate the mediated path between cybervictimization and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents.

Parental conflict and cyberbullying among Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation analysis

Objective The association of MAOA-VNTR monoamine oxidase A variable number of tandem repeats genotype and child abuse on aggressive behavior among Chinese Han adolescents were examined. Methods A group of 513 (M:367, F:146) 13-18 years old Chinese adolescents were selected randomly, and the effects of child maltreatment ［measured using the child trauma questionnaire (CTQ)］ and aggressive behavior during adolescents′ period ［assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist for Youth Self-Report (YSR)］ were examined respectively. DNA were collected and MAOA-VNTR genotype were assessed via venous blood sample. Both the main effects of MAOA genotype, children′s maltreatment experience and the interaction between them were analyzed by a linear regression analysis. Results In all, 513 middle school students (367 boys, 146 girls) were analyzed in the study. The mean aggression scores were (10.13±6.67) and (9.18±6.36) for boys and girls. The low and high activity of MAOA-VNTR genotype accounts for 58.3% and 41.7% for boys, and 39.4% and 22.5% for girls respectively. The GLM model showed that there were no direct association between the MAOA genotypes with aggression scores, while a significant association between children′s maltreatment experience with aggressive behavior in adolescents′ period were found for both boys and girls (P<0.01). Some significant interactions between MAOA genotype with subtypes of maltreatment were uncovered (boys: P=0.02, P<0.01 and P=0.04 for MAOA with physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse; girls: P= 0.03 and P=0.04 for MAOA with sexual and emotional abuse). For adolescents with the low activity of MAOA-VNTR were more prone to commit aggressive behavior when suffered children′s abuse for both gender. Conclusions Aggressive behaviors among Chinese adolescents may be affected by a gene-enviornment interaction involving MAOA-VNTR and children′s abuse experience which may be differentially sensitive to the subtype of childhood maltreatment and gender. Key words: Monoamine oxidase; Polymorphism single nucleotide; Child abuse; Aggression

Although substantive research has shown that a positive perceived school climate is an essential protective factor for cyberbullying among adolescents, little research revealed the mechanisms underlying this relationship. This study examined whether normative beliefs about aggression mediate the association between a positive perceived school climate and cyberbullying and whether this process is moderated by Internet morality. Anonymous questionnaires measuring these variables were administered to 649 junior high school students in China. After controlling for traditional bullying, mediation analysis indicated that normative beliefs about aggression played a full mediating role in the relationship between a positive perceived school climate and cyberbullying. Moderated mediation analysis further revealed that Internet morality moderated the predictive effect of normative beliefs about aggression on cyberbullying. The mediating effect of normative beliefs about aggression was stronger in individuals with lower levels of Internet morality. These findings provide insight into making existing interventions more suitable for cyberbullying.

With the development of big data and artificial intelligence, a large number of online learning platforms adopt deep learning to improve teenagers’ academic performance. However, the original purpose of the platform is to improve the prediction ability from behaviour to result and lacks the explanation of why Internet literacy leads to adolescent academic achievement. The current study tested the mediating effect of perceived academic competence in association between Internet literacy and academic achievement, and whether this mediating process was moderated by online risk encountered. The model in this study was examined with 1105 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 14.85 years, SD = 1.85 years). The participants completed questionnaires regarding Internet literacy, perceived academic competence, academic achievement and online risk encountered. The results showed that the direct effect between Internet literacy and academic achievement was not significant. Mediation analysis indicated that perceived academic competence completely mediated the association between Internet literacy and academic achievement. Moderated mediation analysis further revealed that the mediated path was weaker for adolescents with a high level of online risk encountered. These findings provide a potential way to understand the consequences of Internet literacy and help to increase the positive impact of high academic achievement.

Although growth mindset (i.e., the belief that intelligence can be developed) has been shown to play an important role in academic achievement, little is known about the underlying mediating and/or moderating mechanisms in adolescents. The current study investigated (a) the mediating role of reasoning ability in the relationship between growth mindset and academic achievement, and (b) the moderating role of self-affirmation in the direct and indirect relationships between growth mindset and academic achievement. Participants were 1828 Chinese adolescents (age, M = 16.88; 59.4% male). Participants filled out questionnaires regarding growth mindset, academic achievement, reasoning ability, and self-affirmation. After controlling for age, sex, annual family income, hukou (household registered), and parent’s educational level, we found that growth mindset was significantly positively associated with academic achievement. Mediation analysis revealed that reasoning ability partially mediated this relationship. Growth mindset (incremental theories of intelligence) significantly predicted academic achievement in adolescents with high self-affirmation, but not in those with low self-affirmation. Moderated mediation analysis further indicated that the direct and indirect relationships between growth mindset and academic achievement were moderated by self-affirmation. The indirect effect of growth mindset on academic achievement via reasoning ability was stronger for adolescents with high self-affirmation than in those with low self-affirmation.

Previous studies have proved the relationship between parent–adolescent communication and pathological Internet use. Based on the integration of compensatory satisfaction theory and the self-determination theory, the present study investigated (a) the mediating role of psychological needs satisfaction in the relationship between perceived parent–adolescent communication and pathological Internet use, and (b) the moderating role of parental responsiveness in the mediation model. Data were collected from 2751 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 14.88 years, SD= 1.90). Participants completed anonymous questionnaires regarding parent–adolescent communication, psychological need satisfaction, perceived parental responsiveness, and pathological Internet use. The results showed that perceived parent–adolescent communication was negatively associated with pathological Internet use after controlling for demographic variables. Mediation analyses revealed that psychological need satisfaction partially mediated the association between perceived parent–adolescent communication and pathological Internet use. Moderated mediation analyses further indicated that parent–adolescent communication had a protective effect on adolescent pathological Internet use and a facilitating effect on psychological need satisfaction only for adolescents with high parental responsiveness. These results enhanced the understanding of the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying the relationship between parent–adolescent communication and pathological Internet use. These findings also expand the compensatory satisfaction theory by illuminating one of the ways of how psychological needs were unsatisfied in one’s family.

Psychological maltreatment and adolescent internet harassment perpetration: The mediating role of deviant peer affiliation and the moderating role of self-compassion

Simple SummaryPeople can develop meaningful relationships with companion animals, and they behave towards them in specific ways. For example, they spend time together in close proximity, apologize or talk to them as if they are human, and experience social support from their pets. This study aims to explain these types of interactions in a sample of cat owners and dog owners in the Netherlands. The more pet owners rated the mental abilities of their pet to be similar to those of humans (anthropomorphization), the more they displayed making-up behavior towards their pet, and the stronger they experienced social support from their pet. However, to engage in communication behavior (e.g., petting, kissing, talking) it is not necessary to anthropomorphize the pet. Dog owners anthropomorphize more than cat owners; this might be due to a higher symmetry in social behaviors between humans and dogs. Lastly, the social role of the pet (partly) mediates the association between anthropomorphization and owner behaviors and experience of social support. This mediation effect is more pronounced in cat owners compared to dog owners.Background: For sustainable and healthy relationships with pets, attributing some degree of human abilities to the pet (anthropomorphization) might be necessary. We hypothesize that the tendency to anthropomorphize pet animals is related to relationship behaviors (communication and making up) and the experience of social support. Perceiving the pet in a human social role (e.g., family member or friend) might mediate this relationship. Method: Associations were tested in a mixed sample of cat and dog owners by means of multiple linear regression, moderation, and (moderated) mediation analyses. The differences between cat and dog owners were examined with pet type as the moderator in a moderated mediation analysis. Results: Dog owners anthropomorphize their pets more than cat owners. The social role of the pet mediates the association between anthropomorphization and relationship behavior and social support. The mediation effects were stronger for cat owners than for dog owners. Moreover, our newly developed comparative anthropomorphism measure was a better predictor than the commonly used general anthropomorphism measure (IDAQ).

The aim of this study was to explore the association between the quality of the work environment, job characteristics, demographic characteristics and a pathway of job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion and turnover intention among nurses in emergency departments and perform subgroup analyses. Turnover intention among nurses is high. Multiple causes have been described, mostly in large studies of nurses working on general wards, often without considering complementarity of conceptual models and showing scant interest in the consistency of associations across subgroups of nurses. Cross-sectional multicentre survey. Convenience sample of 294 nurses in 11 Belgian emergency departments during 2014-2015. Indirect effects in the form of mediation and serial mediation were estimated to assess the association between work environment (Magnet model), job characteristics (Job Demand Control Support model) and turnover intention via job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion. Consistency of these indirect effects across subgroups of nurses was examined using moderated mediation analysis (conditional indirect effects). Several Magnet and Job Demand Control Support dimensions were related to turnover intention, either via job dissatisfaction (mediation) or via job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion (serial mediation). In the case of social support from supervisor, these indirect effects were only significant for female nurses, among whom turnover intention was higher. Last, nurses with more years of experience were less likely to indicate turnover intention. To maximize prevention of turnover intention at emergency departments, interventions could target early career nurses, work environment and job characteristics. Female nurses in particular may also benefit from improved social support from their supervisor.

Is comfort food actually comforting for emotional eaters? A (moderated) mediation analysis

Extensive research has documented the rising prevalence of adolescent depression and suicidal ideation; however, the mechanisms through which stress and coping styles influence these conditions remain unclear. This study examined the interrelationships among these variables, focusing on stress as a mediator and coping styles as moderators. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 561 Chinese adolescents (71.1% female) aged 12–18 years (M = 15.95, SD = 1.90) recruited from the Psychosomatic Clinic of Hangzhou TCM Hospital. Participants completed four standardized measures: (1) the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression symptoms, (2) the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation-Chinese Version (BSI-CV) for suicidal ideation, (3) the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC) for stress assessment, and (4) the Coping Style Questionnaire (CSQ) for coping styles. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS and MPlus. Pearson correlation analyses were performed to examine relationships among variables. The mediating role of stress and moderating role of coping styles were tested using mediation and moderated mediation analyses with bootstrapping procedures. A total of 62.72% of study participants self-reported suicidal ideation. Depression showed significant positive correlations with stress (r = .51, p < .001), suicidal ideation (r = .60, p < .001), and coping style (r = .62, p < .001). Stress partially mediated the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation (indirect effect = 0.19, p < .001), accounting for 46.6% of the total effect. The moderated mediation model revealed good fit (χ² = 3.75, df = 2, p < .001; RMSEA = 0.05; CFI = 0.92; TLI = 0.91). Coping styles significantly moderated the indirect effect of depression on suicidal ideation through stress (β = − 0.53, p < .001).. This study used a self-reporting approach, did not include longitudinal tracking of the developmental relationships between adolescent depression and suicidal ideation, and did not cover all potential factors related to stress and coping styles. These findings suggest that stress mediates the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation in adolescents, while coping styles moderate this mediated relationship. This study provides insights into the mechanisms underlying suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents and may inform targeted prevention and intervention strategies.

Association between parental phubbing and short-form video addiction: A moderated mediation analysis among Chinese adolescents