Depression and Internet Gaming Disorder among Chinese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Moderated Mediation Model

Mengyun Yin, Shihua Huang () and Chengfu Yu
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Mengyun Yin: Department of Applied Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
Shihua Huang: Department of Applied Psychology, School of Public Health and Management, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
Chengfu Yu: School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is significantly associated with depression across previous studies, and significantly affects the development of mental health among Chinese adolescents. In this two-wave longitudinal research, we tested the mediating role of maladaptive cognition and the moderating role of mindfulness in the linkage between depression and IGD among Chinese adolescents ( N = 580, 355 females, average age = 15.76 years, SD = 1.31) who completed questionnaires. Results of regression-based analyses showed that depression was positively related to IGD. Maladaptive cognition significantly mediated the link between depression and IGD. Moreover, mindfulness moderated the second part of the mediation process. Specifically, as the level of mindfulness increased, the influence of depression on the future IGD through maladaptive cognition was weakened. The present study demonstrates the key roles of maladaptive cognition and mindfulness in the link between depression and IGD, and further supports the cognitive–behavioral model of pathological Internet use.

Keywords: depression; internet gaming disorder; maladaptive cognition; mindfulness; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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