Abstract
Cyber-victimization, tobacco and alcohol use are all prominent public health problems among adolescents throughout the world. Against this background, this study examined the association between cyber-victimization and tobacco and alcohol use, as well as the moderating role of deviant peer affiliation and the potential age differences among elementary, middle, and high school students. A survey conducted among 1488 school students (aged 9–19 years, consisting of 702 elementary school students, 318 middle school students, and 468 high school students) found that cyber-victimization was positively correlated with tobacco and alcohol use among students of all stages. However, the moderating mechanism was different. Among elementary school students, deviant peer affiliation played a positive moderating role. For individuals with high deviant peer affiliation, this association was stronger. Among middle school students, the moderating role of deviant peer affiliation was insignificant. Among high school students, deviant peer affiliation played a negative moderating role; this association was significant for individuals with low deviant peer affiliation. The results of this study clarify the relationship between cyber-victimization and tobacco and alcohol use by examining the moderating role of deviant peer affiliation and age differences, providing intervention guidance for reducing the negative influences of cyber-victimization on children and adolescents with respect their use of tobacco and alcohol.
Highlights
In our current information society, the internet has become a significant environmental factor influencing the development of children and adolescents
Neither cyber-victimization nor the interaction between cyber-victimization and deviant peer affiliation were significantly associated with tobacco and alcohol use
Based on theLow general stress theory, daily life of childrencyber-victimization and adolescents, this study examined the association between cybervictimization and tobacco and alcohol use, as well as the moderating role of deviant peer
Summary
In our current information society, the internet has become a significant environmental factor influencing the development of children and adolescents. Cyber-victimization refers to the phenomenon whereby an individual is repeatedly bullied by other individuals or groups using electronic communication tools [1]. This is a new but prominent social problem among children and adolescents in recent years. Substance use is a prominent public health concern among children and adolescents. In China, it refers to the use of tobacco and alcohol (due to their relatively high prevalence) [5]. The sale of cigarettes and alcohol drinks to minors or juveniles is strictly prohibited in China, the phenomenon of smoking and drinking among minors has never disappeared, and recently has even shown a trend of increasing with respect
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