Bullying victimization and depressive symptoms among left-behind children: a moderated mediation model involving Internet Addiction.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of Internet Addiction in the association between bullying victimization and Depressive Symptoms among left-behind children, as well as the moderating role of physical activity in this relationship.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was adopted. A total of 21,689 left-behind children were recruited using stratified random sampling. A moderated mediation model was constructed within the generalized linear model framework. Conditional indirect effects and the probability scale were further used to analyze the relationships among bullying victimization, Internet Addiction, physical activity, and Depressive Symptoms in left-behind children.

RESULTS

After controlling for confounding factors, bullying victimization significantly predicted Depressive Symptoms among left-behind children (B = 1.179, p < 0.001). Internet Addiction partially mediated the association between bullying victimization and Depressive Symptoms. Specifically, bullying victimization significantly predicted Internet Addiction among left-behind children (B = 1.041, p < 0.001), and Internet Addiction significantly predicted Depressive Symptoms (B = 1.218, p < 0.001). Moreover, physical activity significantly moderated the association between bullying victimization and Internet Addiction (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Among left-behind children, bullying victimization may increase the risk of Depressive Symptoms partly by triggering Internet Addiction, while physical activity may buffer the association between bullying victimization and Internet Addiction.