Perceived Parent-adolescent Communication and Pathological Internet Use Among Chinese Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model

Objectives Previous studies have proved the relationship between parent-adolescent communication and pathological Internet use. Based on the integration of compensatory satisfaction theory and the self-determination theory, the present study investigated (a) the mediating role of psychological needs satisfaction in the relationship between perceived parent-adolescent communication and pathological Internet use, and (b) the moderating role of parental responsiveness in the mediation model. Methods Data were collected from 2751 Chinese adolescents (mean age=14.88 years, SD=1.90). Participants completed anonymous questionnaires regarding parent-adolescent communication, psychological need satisfaction, perceived parental responsiveness, and pathological Internet use. Results The results showed that perceived parent-adolescent communication was negatively associated with pathological Internet use after controlling for demographic variables. Mediation analyses revealed that psychological need satisfaction partially mediated the association between perceived parent-adolescent communication and pathological Internet use. Moderated mediation analyses further indicated that parent-adolescent communication had a protective effect on adolescent pathological Internet use and a facilitating effect on psychological need satisfaction only for adolescents with high parental responsiveness. Conclusion These results enhanced the understanding of the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying the relationship between parent-adolescent communication and pathological Internet use. These findings also expand the compensatory satisfaction theory by illuminating one of the ways of how psychological needs were unsatisfied in one's family.