Academic Journal

Bullying Victimization and Problematic Internet Use Among Adolescents: The Role of Relative Deprivation and Anxiety.

Bibliographic Details
Title: Bullying Victimization and Problematic Internet Use Among Adolescents: The Role of Relative Deprivation and Anxiety.
Authors: Chang L; School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.; Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Sciences at Universities, Adolescent Education and Intelligence Support Lab of Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China., Xu J; Center for Children and Families, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States., Zhao Y; School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.; Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Sciences at Universities, Adolescent Education and Intelligence Support Lab of Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China., Zhang H; School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.; Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Sciences at Universities, Adolescent Education and Intelligence Support Lab of Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.
Source: The Journal of genetic psychology [J Genet Psychol] 2026 Jul-Aug; Vol. 187 (4), pp. 252-264. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 May 05.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Psychology Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 2985112R Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1940-0896 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00221325 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Genet Psychol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: 2010- : Philadelphia : Psychology Press
Original Publication: Provincetown, Mass. : Journal Press
MeSH Terms: Bullying*/psychology , Crime Victims*/psychology , Anxiety*/psychology , Internet Addiction Disorder*/psychology , Internet Use*, Adolescent Behavior/psychology ; Humans ; Adolescent ; Female ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Internet
Abstract: The goal of this study was to examine the relation between bullying victimization and problematic internet use among adolescents, as well as the mediating roles of relative deprivation and anxiety. A total of 742 adolescents (54.4% male, 45.6% female; Mage = 13 years old, SD = 0.63) reported their bullying victimization, relative deprivation, anxiety, and problematic internet use through questionnaires. Results indicated adolescents' bullying victimization was positively associated with their problematic internet use, and adolescents' relative deprivation and anxiety, respectively, mediated the association between bullying victimization and problematic internet use. Furthermore, bullying victimization was positively related to adolescents' problematic internet use through the chain mediating effects of relative deprivation and anxiety. The findings revealed the correlates and possible mechanisms of adolescents' problematic internet use development, practical implications, and future directions are discussed.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Anxiety; bullying; deprivation; problematic internet use; victimization
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20250505 Date Completed: 20260630 Latest Revision: 20260630
Update Code: 20260630
DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2025.2496800
PMID: 40323173
Database: MEDLINE
Description
ISSN:1940-0896
DOI:10.1080/00221325.2025.2496800