The relationship between bullying victimization and online game addiction among Chinese early adolescents: The potential role of meaning in life and gender differences

Although the risk effect of bullying victimization on youths' online game addiction has been well established, little is known about the potential mediating and moderating mechanisms that account for the relationship between them. This study considered two dimensions of meaning in life (i.e., the presence of meaning and the search for meaning) as underlying mediating and moderating variables to explain the link between bullying victimization and online game addiction among Chinese early adolescents. We examined gender differences in these relationships. The sample included 1665 Chinese early adolescents (48.9% girls; Mage = 11.80 years, SD = 1.23) and their mothers. Latent structural equation modeling showed that the model for boys was consistent with moderation, that is, the presence of meaning buffered against the ill effects of bullying victimization on boys' online game addiction, whereas the search for meaning amplified the association between bullying victimization and online game addiction. The model for girls was consistent with mediation, that is, the presence of meaning but not the search for meaning may have explained how victimization led to online game addiction. Suggested intervention and prevention strategies include helping youths enhance their sense of the presence of meaning and guiding male adolescents to search for positive and advanced meaning in life.