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Flow Experience Is a Key Factor in the Likelihood of Adolescents’ Problematic TikTok Use: The Moderating Role of Active Parental Mediation

Author

Listed:
  • Yao Qin

    (School of Communication, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang 11800, Malaysia)

  • Alessandro Musetti

    (Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy)

  • Bahiyah Omar

    (School of Communication, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang 11800, Malaysia)

Abstract

TikTok use and overuse have grown rapidly in recent years among adolescents. However, risk factors for problematic TikTok use are still largely unknown. In addition, drawing on the flow theory and parental mediation theory, this study aims to examine how adolescents’ perceptions of enjoyment, concentration, and time distortion affect their problematic TikTok use behavior. Further, we examined the moderating effect of active parental mediation. An online survey in China received responses from a sample of 633 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 (males: 51.2%; M age = 15.00; DS = 0.975). Our findings showed that enjoyment was positively associated with concentration and, in turn, with time distortion. We also found significant positive effects of concentration and time distortion on problematic TikTok use. The effect of enjoyment, however, was non-significant, indicating that hedonic mood was not associated with problematic TikTok use. Out of the three moderated relationships examined in this study, only active parental control was found to be a significant moderator for the relationship between concentration and problematic TikTok use. The significant negative moderation result showed that as active parental mediation grows, the impact of adolescents’ concentration on problematic TikTok use is reduced. Future research directions and implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Yao Qin & Alessandro Musetti & Bahiyah Omar, 2023. "Flow Experience Is a Key Factor in the Likelihood of Adolescents’ Problematic TikTok Use: The Moderating Role of Active Parental Mediation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2089-:d:1045207
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Huimin Wang & Kyungtag Lee, 2020. "Getting in the Flow Together: The Role of Social Presence, Perceived Enjoyment and Concentration on Sustainable Use Intention of Mobile Social Network Game," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Peng Sha & Xiaoyu Dong, 2021. "Research on Adolescents Regarding the Indirect Effect of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress between TikTok Use Disorder and Memory Loss," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-11, August.
    3. Zeyang Yang & Mark D. Griffiths & Zhihao Yan & Wenting Xu, 2021. "Can Watching Online Videos Be Addictive? A Qualitative Exploration of Online Video Watching among Chinese Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.
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