Abstract: Problematic Internet use (PIU) and its’ detrimental effects on adolescents’ development have attracted much research and public attention. Problematic Internet use has been linked to physical and psychosocial problems, such as sleeplessness, academic failure, depressive symptoms, and externalizing problems. It is essential to understand the etiology of adolescents’ PIU in order to identify targeted interventions. Peers comprise an important component of adolescents’ social contexts. Thus, the role of peers in adolescents’ PIU is noteworthy. Deviant peer affiliation is a core characteristic of negative social connectedness with peers. There is considerable evidence indicating deviant peer affiliation is a powerful predicator of adolescents’ problem behaviors (e.g., aggression, substance use, and delinquency) and emotional disturbances (e.g., depression, anxiety). However, limited number of research focused on the role of deviant peer affiliation in adolescents’ PIU. More importantly, the reciprocal relation between deviant peer affiliation and adolescents’ PIU has not been determined. This study used a two-wave cross-lagged panel analysis to explore the likely reciprocal association between deviant peer affiliation and adolescents’ PIU. In addition, we also examined whether the above bidirectional relation would differ by sex. Participants were 886 adolescents (44% boys; Mage = 15.55) who provided self-report data on deviant peer affiliation and problematic Internet use as well as demographic variables at the beginning and the end of a school year. We used the questionnaire developed by our study team to assess deviant peer affiliation. In addition, adolescents’ PIU was measured by the diagnostic questionnaire for screening of Internet dependency developed by Young and modified by Li and his colleagues for use in Chinese populations. All the measures have good reliability and validity. We first calculated descriptive statistics for our variables of interest and bivariate association among these variables in SPSS 19.0 software. The follow-up cross-lagged model was conducted using Mplus 7.0. After controlling for sex, we found that deviant peer affiliation at the beginning of the school year was a significant and positive predictor of PIU at the end of the school year (b1 = .05, SE =.03, p < .05). Moreover, PIU at the beginning of the school year also positively predicted adolescents’ deviant peer affiliation at the end of the school year (b2 = .08, SE = .03, p < .05). There were gender differences in the bidirectional association between deviant peer affiliation and adolescents’ PIU. In summary, the current study is an important step towards a better understanding of the relation between deviant peer affiliation and adolescents’ PIU. It showed the bidirectional association between deviant peer affiliation and PIU: higher level of deviant peer affiliation predicted more PIU over time, and vice verse. Gender differences were found in the above bidirectional association by multiple group analyses. Thus, more attention should be paid to male students. These findings contribute to understanding the antecedents and outcomes of adolescent PIU and have important implications for interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of adolescents’ PIU. We recommended that deviant peer context facilitates PIU should be supervised. In addition, various programs (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy) are needed to carry out so as to alleviate the negative consequences of PIU on peer socialization.

Key words: deviant peer affiliation, problematic Internet use, adolescence, a cross-lagged panel analysis

摘要： 本研究采用交叉滞后设计探讨越轨同伴交往与青少年问题性网络使用之间的双向关系。通过越轨同伴交往、问题性网络使用诊断工具对广东省某地区886名青少年（44.0%男生; M = 15.55）进行为期一学年的追踪研究。在控制性别后发现:（1）学年初始的越轨同伴交往可以显著正向预测青少年学年末的问题性网络使用（b1 = .05, SE = .03, p < .05），即青少年在学年初始越轨同伴交往越多，学年末则表现出更多的问题性网络使用；（2）学年初始的青少年问题性网络使用可以显著正向预测其学年末的越轨同伴交往（b2 = .08, SE = .03, p < .05）。（3）越轨同伴交往与青少年问题性网络使用的双向关系存在性别差异。

关键词: 越轨同伴交往, 问题性网络使用, 青少年, 交叉滞后研究