Open Access

ARTICLE

The Influence of Self-Construal on Problematic Online Game Use among Chinese Adolescents: The Mediation of Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction

Qiufeng Gao¹, Yushu Feng¹, Changcheng Jiang¹, Yanshan Zhang^2,*, Ruixiang Gao^3,*

1 Department of Sociology, School of Government, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
2 Department of Public Health, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, China
3 Center for Studies of Psychological Application, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China

* Corresponding Authors: Yanshan Zhang. Email: ; Ruixiang Gao. Email:

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2025, 27(9), 1399-1410. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2025.067138

Received 25 April 2025; Accepted 15 July 2025; Issue published 30 September 2025

Abstract

Background: Fundamental internal factors like self-construal and its influence on problematic online game use (POGU) remain underexplored. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effects of independent and interdependent self-construal on POGU, with the mediation of basic psychological needs satisfaction. Methods: The study surveyed 418 Chinese junior high school students (50.24% male; Mean_age = 12.68, SD = 0.65), assessing their levels of self-construal, basic psychological needs satisfaction, and POGU. A parallel mediation model was tested. Results: The findings showed that autonomy and competence needs satisfaction fully mediated the negative impact of independent self-construal on POGU (B = −0.052, p < 0.05; B = −0.094, p < 0.01, respectively), while interdependent self-construal and relatedness needs satisfaction did not have a significant effect on POGU (B = 0.005, p = 0.758). Additionally, while independent self-construal positively correlated with the satisfaction of all three psychological needs, interdependent self-construal only positively associated with relatedness need satisfaction (B = 0.152, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study demonstrates that independent self-construal serves as a protective factor against POGU, mediated by autonomy and competence needs satisfaction, while the effects of interdependent self-construal are more complex. These insights highlight the need for tailored interventions that promote adaptive self-construal and psychological needs satisfaction among Chinese adolescents to prevent POGU.

---

Keywords

---