The buffer effect of physical activity: Why does parental marital satisfaction affect adolescents’ problematic Internet use

INTRODUCTION: To explore the moderating effect of physical activity and the mediating effect of depression on the relationship between marital satisfaction and adolescents’ problematic internet use (PIU). METHODS: This study adopted a sample of 288 adolescents and their parents, and measured adolescents’ depression, PIU, physical activity, and parents’ marital satisfaction. RESULTS: These results showed that parental marital satisfaction negatively predicted adolescents' PIU. Adolescents’ depression played a mediating role between parental marital satisfaction and adolescents’ PIU. Further mediated moderation effect analysis showed that the interaction between marital satisfaction and adolescents' physical activity affected the PIU through adolescents’ depression. Specifically, for individuals with lower physical activity, the marital satisfaction affected the PIU through adolescents' depression. However, for the group with higher physical activity, physical activity weakened the effects of marital satisfaction on adolescents' depression, and the mediating effect of depression did not reach a significant level. CONCLUSION: These results are of theoretical and practical significance in understanding and intervening to address adolescents' PIU.