Is Self-Control an "Angel" or a "Devil"? The Effect of Internet Game Disorder on Adolescent Subjective Well-Being

Recent studies have shown that Internet game disorder (IGD) is a significant risk factor of subjective well-being among adolescents. However, there are few studies about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relationship. This study examined the mediating role of sleep quality in the relationship between IGD and adolescent subjective well-being, and the moderating role of self-control in this mediational process. We collected data from 2,767 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 14.42 years, SD = 1.55) to test our theoretical model. Those adolescents completed self-reported questionnaires on IGD, subjective well-being, sleep quality, and self-control, respectively. After controlling for demographic variables, IGD was negatively associated with adolescent subjective well-being. Mediation analysis indicates that sleep quality partially mediates the association between IGD and adolescent subjective well-being. Tests of moderated mediation further reveal that the mediated path was also moderated by self-control. Specifically, these effects are stronger in adolescents with higher self-control, manifesting as cognitive dissonance. These findings advance our knowledge of how and when IGD relates to subjective well-being among adolescents. We discussed implications and limitations of this study.