Association between relationship adaptation and Internet gaming disorder among first-year secondary school students in China: Mediation effects via social support and loneliness

Among 2573 first-year secondary school students, the prevalence of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) was 13.1%.

• Poor relationship adaptation is significantly associated with IGD.
• Social support and loneliness are important factors in the relationship between adaptation and IGD.
• The association between relationship adaptation and IGD is fully mediated by three paths: adaptation → social support → IGD, adaptation → loneliness → IGD, and adaptation → social support → loneliness → IGD.
• Effect sizes indicate that relationship adaptation affects IGD primarily through social support (35.5%) and loneliness (34.3%).
• Modification of social support and loneliness may help mitigate the negative effects of poor relationship adaptation on IGD.

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