The Moderating Role of Deviant Peer Affiliation in the Relation between Cyber-Victimization, Tobacco and Alcohol Use, and Age Differences

Xiaojun Sun, Liangshuang Yao, Gengfeng Niu and Shanyan Lin
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Xiaojun Sun: Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Liangshuang Yao: Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Gengfeng Niu: Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Shanyan Lin: Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-10

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.

Keywords: cyber-victimization; tobacco and alcohol use; deviant peer affiliation; age difference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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