How does relative deprivation influence Chinese migrant adolescents’ life satisfaction? Testing two integrated models of perceived control and two types of belief in a just world

Although relative deprivation is associated with well-being in adults, the concept is yet to be examined in the understudied population of Chinese migrant adolescents. This study developed two integrated models to examine the potential mediating effect of perceived control and moderating effect of personal belief in a just world (PBJW) and general belief in a just world (GBJW) on the association between relative deprivation and life satisfaction in different adolescent age groups. In total, 1727 Chinese rural-to-urban migrant adolescents (48% female; Mage = 12.3, SD = 1.7) completed measures of relative deprivation, perceived control, PBJW, GBJW, and life satisfaction. Relative deprivation was significantly negatively associated with life satisfaction; this link was mediated by perceived control. Moreover, PBJW moderated the relationship between relative deprivation and life satisfaction in younger migrant adolescents (aged 10–12 years). Further, both the direct effect of relative deprivation on life satisfaction and the mediation effect via perceived control were moderated by GBJW in younger migrant adolescents. The effects were stronger in migrant adolescents with lower PBJW or GBJW. These findings may prove useful for developing appropriate interventions to improve migrant adolescents’ life satisfaction by increasing their perceived control and BJW.