The association between school bullying and internet addiction among adolescents: a moderated mediation model
BackgroundSchool bullying poses a serious threat to the mental well-being of adolescents. Although previous research has demonstrated a link between school bullying and internet addiction, the psychological mechanism remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the mediating roles of depre...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1502726/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850278161867079680 |
|---|---|
| author | Lei Li Jia Cai Cong Wang Cong Wang Yun-Fei Mu Yun-Fei Mu Zhong-Yue Deng Zhong-Yue Deng Ai-Ping Deng Ai-Ping Deng Hong-Jun Song Hong-Jun Song Xue-Hua Huang Li Yin Yi Huang Yi Huang Jin Chen Jun-Shu Zhao Bing-Zhi Zhang Hao Li Mao-Sheng Ran Mao-Sheng Ran |
| author_facet | Lei Li Jia Cai Cong Wang Cong Wang Yun-Fei Mu Yun-Fei Mu Zhong-Yue Deng Zhong-Yue Deng Ai-Ping Deng Ai-Ping Deng Hong-Jun Song Hong-Jun Song Xue-Hua Huang Li Yin Yi Huang Yi Huang Jin Chen Jun-Shu Zhao Bing-Zhi Zhang Hao Li Mao-Sheng Ran Mao-Sheng Ran |
| author_sort | Lei Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundSchool bullying poses a serious threat to the mental well-being of adolescents. Although previous research has demonstrated a link between school bullying and internet addiction, the psychological mechanism remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the mediating roles of depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as the moderating role of the stigma of mental illness.MethodsA cross-sectional survey among 82,873 middle and high school, college, and university students in Sichuan Province, China, was conducted for this study. Moderated mediation models were examined using PROCESS macros in SPSS 26.0.ResultsThe school bullying was positively correlated with internet addiction, with depression and anxiety symptoms partially mediating internet addiction, respectively. The stigma of mental illness significantly moderated this relationship, revealing a stronger association between school bullying, depression and anxiety symptoms, and internet addiction for adolescents with higher levels of stigma.ConclusionsThese findings emphasize the importance of addressing depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as stigma of mental illness in interventions to prevent school bullying and internet addiction. Programs tailored to these factors are crucial for alleviating the negative impacts of school bullying on the mental health and online behaviors of adolescents. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba8faaa572d74e88aaf64e2234501512 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba8faaa572d74e88aaf64e22345015122025-08-20T01:49:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-03-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15027261502726The association between school bullying and internet addiction among adolescents: a moderated mediation modelLei Li0Jia Cai1Cong Wang2Cong Wang3Yun-Fei Mu4Yun-Fei Mu5Zhong-Yue Deng6Zhong-Yue Deng7Ai-Ping Deng8Ai-Ping Deng9Hong-Jun Song10Hong-Jun Song11Xue-Hua Huang12Li Yin13Yi Huang14Yi Huang15Jin Chen16Jun-Shu Zhao17Bing-Zhi Zhang18Hao Li19Mao-Sheng Ran20Mao-Sheng Ran21Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaInstitute of Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaInstitute of Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaInstitute of Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaWest China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaWest China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaInstitute of Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaYa'an Fourth People's Hospital, Ya'an, Sichuan, ChinaYa'an Fourth People's Hospital, Ya'an, Sichuan, ChinaYa'an Fourth People's Hospital, Ya'an, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaInstitute of Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaBackgroundSchool bullying poses a serious threat to the mental well-being of adolescents. Although previous research has demonstrated a link between school bullying and internet addiction, the psychological mechanism remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the mediating roles of depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as the moderating role of the stigma of mental illness.MethodsA cross-sectional survey among 82,873 middle and high school, college, and university students in Sichuan Province, China, was conducted for this study. Moderated mediation models were examined using PROCESS macros in SPSS 26.0.ResultsThe school bullying was positively correlated with internet addiction, with depression and anxiety symptoms partially mediating internet addiction, respectively. The stigma of mental illness significantly moderated this relationship, revealing a stronger association between school bullying, depression and anxiety symptoms, and internet addiction for adolescents with higher levels of stigma.ConclusionsThese findings emphasize the importance of addressing depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as stigma of mental illness in interventions to prevent school bullying and internet addiction. Programs tailored to these factors are crucial for alleviating the negative impacts of school bullying on the mental health and online behaviors of adolescents.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1502726/fullschool bullyinginternet addictionstigma of mental illnessdepressionanxiety |
| spellingShingle | Lei Li Jia Cai Cong Wang Cong Wang Yun-Fei Mu Yun-Fei Mu Zhong-Yue Deng Zhong-Yue Deng Ai-Ping Deng Ai-Ping Deng Hong-Jun Song Hong-Jun Song Xue-Hua Huang Li Yin Yi Huang Yi Huang Jin Chen Jun-Shu Zhao Bing-Zhi Zhang Hao Li Mao-Sheng Ran Mao-Sheng Ran The association between school bullying and internet addiction among adolescents: a moderated mediation model Frontiers in Public Health school bullying internet addiction stigma of mental illness depression anxiety |
| title | The association between school bullying and internet addiction among adolescents: a moderated mediation model |
| title_full | The association between school bullying and internet addiction among adolescents: a moderated mediation model |
| title_fullStr | The association between school bullying and internet addiction among adolescents: a moderated mediation model |
| title_full_unstemmed | The association between school bullying and internet addiction among adolescents: a moderated mediation model |
| title_short | The association between school bullying and internet addiction among adolescents: a moderated mediation model |
| title_sort | association between school bullying and internet addiction among adolescents a moderated mediation model |
| topic | school bullying internet addiction stigma of mental illness depression anxiety |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1502726/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leili theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT jiacai theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT congwang theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT congwang theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT yunfeimu theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT yunfeimu theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT zhongyuedeng theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT zhongyuedeng theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT aipingdeng theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT aipingdeng theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT hongjunsong theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT hongjunsong theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT xuehuahuang theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT liyin theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT yihuang theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT yihuang theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT jinchen theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT junshuzhao theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT bingzhizhang theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT haoli theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT maoshengran theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT maoshengran theassociationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT leili associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT jiacai associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT congwang associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT congwang associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT yunfeimu associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT yunfeimu associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT zhongyuedeng associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT zhongyuedeng associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT aipingdeng associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT aipingdeng associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT hongjunsong associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT hongjunsong associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT xuehuahuang associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT liyin associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT yihuang associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT yihuang associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT jinchen associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT junshuzhao associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT bingzhizhang associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT haoli associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT maoshengran associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel AT maoshengran associationbetweenschoolbullyingandinternetaddictionamongadolescentsamoderatedmediationmodel |