Peer Victimization and Problematic Internet Use Among Adolescents: A Three-Level Meta-Analytic Review.
Jun Li, Wenqing Li, Xiaoyu Li et al.
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In 30 seconds
This three-level meta-analytic review synthesized 55 studies involving 249,892 adolescents to assess the association between peer victimization and problematic Internet use and examine potential moderators. Across 114 effect sizes, peer victimization was positively associated with problematic Internet use (r = .237, p < .001), a small effect. Publication year, data type, and the measures used for both constructs significantly moderated the association; culture had a marginal moderating effect. No significant moderation was found by sex, age, publication status, or type of problematic Internet use, and the results were not affected by publication bias.
Key findings
- Peer victimization was positively associated with adolescent problematic Internet use (r = .237, p < .001), representing a small effect.
- Publication year, data type, and measures of peer victimization and problematic Internet use significantly moderated the association.
- Culture showed marginal moderation; sex, age, publication status, and type of problematic Internet use did not significantly moderate the association.
- The results were not affected by publication bias.
Why it matters
The pooled finding supports an association between adolescents’ experiences of peer victimization and problematic Internet use, while the small effect and variation across study characteristics caution against treating the relationship as uniform. Considering victimization may help contextualize problematic Internet use and inform research or intervention approaches, without implying that victimization causes the behavior.
What to keep in mind
The review synthesizes observational associations, which cannot establish causation. The abstract reports variation in findings and significant moderation by several study characteristics.