Violent Video Game Exposure and Problem Behaviors among Children and Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Deviant Peer Affiliation for Gender and Grade Differences

Mingchen Wei, Yanling Liu () and Shuai Chen
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Mingchen Wei: Research Center of Mental Health Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Yanling Liu: Research Center of Mental Health Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Shuai Chen: Research Center of Mental Health Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: Based on problem behavior theory, a mediation model for gender and grade differences is explored in this study. The study examined gender and grade differences in the effects of violent video games and deviant peer affiliation on problem behaviors among children and adolescents. A total of 2118 children and adolescents from four primary and middle schools in China (M age = 13.08, SD = 2.17) were surveyed using an anonymous questionnaire on basic information, exposure to violent video games, deviant peer affiliation, and problem behaviors. The results showed that exposure to violent video games significantly positively predicted problem behaviors, and deviant peer affiliation played a mediating role. Significant gender and grade differences were found in the mediating effect. This finding helps understand the individual differences in the influencing factors of problem behaviors. Further, it has important implications for interventions to reduce problem behaviors among children and adolescents.

Keywords: violent video game exposure; deviant peer affiliation; problem behavior; child adolescents; gender differences; grade differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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