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Cited by 47Impact of Technology on AdolescentsChild Development and Digital TechnologyYouth Development and Social Support

Positive Youth Development Attributes and Parenting as Protective Factors Against Adolescent Social Networking Addiction in Hong Kong

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Yu, Lu, Shek, Daniel Tan Lei·2021·Frontiers in Pediatrics
DOI 10.3389/fped.2021.649232PMC PMC8012543
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Abstract

This study examined the predictive effects of 15 positive youth development (PYD) attributes and parenting behavior on adolescent social networking addiction (SNA) in a representative sample of Hong Kong students. In total, 1,896 Hong Kong Secondary 1 students from 20 randomly selected schools (age = 13.19 ± 0.52 years) completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale, and the Chinese Parenting Behavior Scale. Of the participants, 11.4% could be classified as being addicted to Social Networking Sites (SNSs). Regression analyses showed that students' emotional competence (β = −0.09; p < 0.01), behavioral competence (β = −0.12; p < 0.001), beliefs in the future (β = −0.10; p < 0.01), and spirituality (β = −0.08; p < 0.01) were negatively associated with SNA, while social competence (β = 0.07; p < 0.05) and positive identity (β = 0.13; p < 0.001) were positively related to SNA. Paternal and maternal responsiveness showed indirect effects on students' SNA through the full mediation of PYD attributes. Specific PYD attributes and positive parenting behavior may serve as important protective factors against the development of SNA among Hong Kong adolescents.

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  • Two studies indicated that adolescents who used social media excessively had an unclear self-concept.

    “In contrast, two studies indicated that adolescents who used social media excessively had an unclear self-concept (Sharif & Khanekharab, 2017; Yu & Shek, 2021).”

    From A Systematic Review of Social Media Use and Adolescent Identity Development (2025) · cites this paper as Yu & Shek, 2021

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports the opposite association: a clear and positive identity was positively related to adolescents’ social networking addiction. The paper defines that identity in terms of self-esteem, exploration, and commitment to self-definition; it does not report that adolescents with excessive social media use had an unclear self-concept. (LLM, conf=0.90)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Yu, L., & Shek, D. T. L.
Affiliations
Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK)
Corresponding author
Yu, Lu
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Pediatrics
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2021-03-18
Volume
9
Pages
649232-649232
ISSN
2296-2360 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fped.2021.649232
PMC
PMC8012543
OpenAlex
W3139425602
Cited by
47
References
18
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 1
FWCI
10.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Frontiers in Pediatrics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PolyU Institutional Research Archive (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Youth Development and Social Support
Keywords
positive youth development, social networking addiction, parental behavior, protective factors, adolescents, social media addiction, emotional competence, behavioral competencies, social competence, positive identity, spirituality, parental responsiveness, Hong Kong students

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