The Relationship between Internet Addiction and Internalizing Problems in Overweight/Obese Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

To explore the relationship of Internet addiction, coping styles, stressful life events and internalizing problems in overweight/obese adolescents, this research surveyed 1438 middle school students among which 245 overweight and obesity (non-clinical cases) were screened based on the body mass index (BMI) percentile criteria of Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC) by a series of questionnaires and anthropometric indices. The results indicated as follows: (1) Negative coping styles played a partial mediating role in the relationship between Internet addiction and internalizing problems among overweight/obese adolescents, which means Internet addiction had a direct effect on internalizing problems and also indirectly affected internalizing problems through negative coping styles. (2) The mediating effect of negative coping styles was moderated by stressful life events. The effect of negative coping styles on internalizing problems was in positive proportion to internalizing problems. Internet addiction, coping styles, stressful life events and internalizing problems among overweight/obese adolescents constructed a moderated mediating model. [N A J Med Sci. 2017;10(4):139-147. DOI: 10.7156/najms.2017.1004139]