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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]