Parent-Adolescent Conflict, Peer Victimization, and Internet Gaming Disorder Among Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Effect of OXTR Gene rs53576 Polymorphism

Abstract

Background: Despite growing evidence that parent-adolescent con ict positively correlates with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) among adolescents, its underlying mediating and moderating mechanisms have not been thoroughly examined. Based on the social development model and gene-environment interaction perspective, this study investigates whether the indirect association of parent-adolescent con ict, which impacts adolescent IGD through peer victimization, was moderated by the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene rs53576 polymorphism.Methods: Overall, 673 Chinese adolescents (Mean age = 12.81 years; SD = 0.48 years; 54% boys) were included in this study. The participants completed questionnaires concerning parent-adolescent con ict, peer victimization, and IGD, and genomic DNA was extracted from each participant's saliva and buccal cells.Results: The ndings indicated that peer victimization mediated the link between parent-adolescent con ict and IGD among adolescents. The OXTR gene rs53576 polymorphism also moderated this indirect link. Speci cally, the indirect effect of parent-adolescent con ict on adolescent IGD through peer victimization was signi cant for adolescents with AA homozygotes. However, it was non-signi cant for Gcarrier adolescents.Conclusion: This research simultaneously considers the roles of family, peers, and genetics in the occurrence of adolescent IGD. Furthermore, it provides bene cial information to customize interventions for adolescent IGD prevention.