The Impact of Addictive Behaviors on Adolescents Psychological Well-Being: The Mediating Effect of Perceived Peer Support

Khasmohammadi M 1 , Ghazizadeh Ehsaei S 2 , Vanderplasschen W 3 , Dortaj F 2 , Farahbakhsh K 1 , Keshavarz Afshar H 4 Show all authors , Jahanbakhshi Z 5 , Mohsenzadeh F 6 , Mohd Noah S 7 , Sulaiman T 8 , Brady C 9 , Hormozi AK 1

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Counseling, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
  • 2 Department of Educational Psychology, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
  • 3 Department of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
  • 4 Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
  • 5 Department of Applied Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
  • 6 Department of Counseling, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
  • 7 Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
  • 8 Department of Foundations of Education, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
  • 9 Department of Clinical Psychology, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
J Genet Psychol, 2019 12 30;181(2-3):39-53.
PMID: 31886741 DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2019.1700896

Abstract

Studies exploring excessive Internet use and gambling are rapidly expanding concerns regarding its impact on mental health, especially in young people due to the increased prevalence of Internet and gambling addictions. Research suggests that perceived peer support plays a significant role in adolescents' psychological well-being. However, no empirical study has dealt with the mediating effect of perceived peer support on the relationship between Internet and gambling addictions and psychological well-being. Thus, the present study aimed to examine whether perceived peer support mediates the relation between Internet and gambling addictions and psychological well-being of adolescents. A sample of 347 Iranian adolescents aged 14 to 18 (Mean age 16.14, 50.4% male) who were studying in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia participated in this study. Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS), Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS), Six-item Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ6), and The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) were used to collect data. Mediation analyses showed a significant indirect effect of compulsive Internet use and problem gambling on psychological well-being through perceived peer support. The total effects of compulsive Internet use and problem gambling on psychological well-being were negative. This study implies the significance of strengthening the knowledge about the impact of peer relationships among adolescents.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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