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Behavioral Sciences
Volume 14
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10.3390/bs14080675
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Article

Gender Differences in the Longitudinal Linkages between Fear of COVID-19 and Internet Game Addiction: A Moderated Multiple Mediation Model

by
Qing Liu
1,†,
Bin Gao
1,†,
Yuedong Wu
2,*,
Bo Ning
2,
Yufei Xu
1 and
Fuyou Zhang
3
1
School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
2
Lab for Educational Big Data and Policymaking, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
3
School of Marxism, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work and share first authorship.
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(8), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080675
Submission received: 5 July 2024 / Revised: 28 July 2024 / Accepted: 30 July 2024 / Published: 3 August 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Children’s, Adolescents' and Young Adults’ Ways to Cope with It)
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Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak has profoundly affected the psychological well-being of university students globally. Previous studies have found a positive longitudinal link between fear of COVID-19 (FoC-19) and internet addiction. However, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding COVID-19-specific predictors and underlying mechanisms of internet gaming addiction (IGA). Methods: Integrating the compensatory internet use theory and social role theory as frameworks, a three-wave longitudinal approach was used in this study to test the hypothesized model. Data spanning a duration of one year were gathered from undergraduate students in China. From 2021 to 2022, we conducted online self-report surveys in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to obtain participants’ levels of FoC-19, loneliness, depressive symptoms, and IGA. Results: FoC-19 showed a longitudinal positive relationship with IGA. The longitudinal link between FoC-19 and IGA was mediated by loneliness and depression. Gender moderated the direct effect of FoC-19 on IGA, with this effect being significant only among male students and not among their female counterparts. Conclusion: These findings advance our comprehension of the mechanisms and gender differences underlying the link between FoC-19 and IGA, and provide a novel perspective for interventions to reduce IGA.
Keywords: fear of COVID-19; loneliness; depression; gender differences; internet game addiction fear of COVID-19; loneliness; depression; gender differences; internet game addiction

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MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, Q.; Gao, B.; Wu, Y.; Ning, B.; Xu, Y.; Zhang, F. Gender Differences in the Longitudinal Linkages between Fear of COVID-19 and Internet Game Addiction: A Moderated Multiple Mediation Model. Behav. Sci. 2024, 14, 675. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080675

AMA Style

Liu Q, Gao B, Wu Y, Ning B, Xu Y, Zhang F. Gender Differences in the Longitudinal Linkages between Fear of COVID-19 and Internet Game Addiction: A Moderated Multiple Mediation Model. Behavioral Sciences. 2024; 14(8):675. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080675

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Qing, Bin Gao, Yuedong Wu, Bo Ning, Yufei Xu, and Fuyou Zhang. 2024. "Gender Differences in the Longitudinal Linkages between Fear of COVID-19 and Internet Game Addiction: A Moderated Multiple Mediation Model" Behavioral Sciences 14, no. 8: 675. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080675

APA Style

Liu, Q., Gao, B., Wu, Y., Ning, B., Xu, Y., & Zhang, F. (2024). Gender Differences in the Longitudinal Linkages between Fear of COVID-19 and Internet Game Addiction: A Moderated Multiple Mediation Model. Behavioral Sciences, 14(8), 675. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14080675

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