Peer, family, and teacher relationships and adolescent internet gaming addiction: Mediating roles of social interaction and emotional needs

BACKGROUND: Internet gaming addiction is a growing behavioral concern among adolescents. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey with a randomly selected sample of 1017 adolescents. Using standardized scales, we assessed peer relationship, family climate, teacher-student relationship, social interaction, emotional needs, and internet gaming addiction. Based on these variables, we developed a mediation model. RESULTS: Peer relationship, family climate, and teacher-student relationship each showed significant negative associations with internet gaming addiction. Both social interaction and emotional needs partially mediated these relationships. In addition, the association between family climate and internet gaming addiction differed significantly across family structures. CONCLUSION: Social interaction and emotional needs played significant mediating roles in the associations between peer relationship, family climate, teacher-student relationship, and internet gaming addiction among adolescents. Schools and families should work together to support adolescents' emotional fulfillment and real-world social experiences, which may help reduce their reliance on virtual environments and the risk of internet gaming addiction.