The Longitudinal Association Between Peer Victimization and Problematic Social Media Use Among Chinese College Students: Testing a Moderated Mediation Model

Peer victimization serves as a risk factor contributing to emotional and behavioral problems among college students. However, limited research has investigated the longitudinal association between peer victimization and problematic social media use (PSMU), as well as its underlying mechanism. Drawing upon the compensatory internet use theory, self-determination theory, and the stress-buffering model, we assumed that fear of missing out (FoMO) could potentially serve as a mediating factor in the relationship between peer victimization and PSMU, while school belongingness may act as a moderator for these direct and indirect associations. A total of 553 Chinese college students (Mage = 21.87, SD = 1.07) were recruited to participate in a three-wave longitudinal study (6 months apart) and completed questionnaires assessing peer victimization (T1), school belongingness (T1), FoMO (T2), and PSMU (T3). With a moderated mediation model, the results indicated the following: (1) Controlling for demographic variables, T1 peer victimization was positively and significantly associated with T3 PSMU; (2) T1 peer victimization also influenced T3 PSMU indirectly by increasing both two dimensions of T2 FoMO; (3) T1 school belongingness significantly moderated the mediating effect of T2 fear of missing social opportunities. Specifically, the indirect effect of peer victimization on PSMU via fear of missing social opportunities was found to be more pronounced when the level of school belongingness was lower. These findings are of great value in extending the studies regarding the multi-systematical risk factors causing PSMU and providing the scientific reference for the prevention and intervention of PSMU among Chinese college students.