Problematic Internet Use and Cyberbullying Perpetration Among Chinese Adolescents: the Mediating and Moderating Roles of Negative Emotions

The present study examined the mediating and moderating roles of negative emotions on the association between problematic Internet use (PIU) and cyberbullying perpetration among adolescents. A sample of 831 junior high school students (50.8% males; Mage = 14 years; SDage = 0.55) was recruited for the completion of questionnaires assessing demographics, PIU, negative emotions, and cyberbullying perpetration. The gender- and grade-controlled result showed that (1) significant positive correlations existed among PIU, negative emotions, and cyberbullying perpetration; (2) negative emotions partially mediated the link between PIU and cyberbullying perpetration; and (3) negative emotions moderated the link between PIU and cyberbullying perpetration. Specifically, the positive association between PIU and cyberbullying perpetration was stronger in adolescents with high negative emotions than in those with low negative emotions. These findings provide important implications for the prevention and intervention of cyberbullying perpetration among adolescents.