Protection or Constraint? A Study on the Double-Edged Effects of Restrictive Mediation on Adolescents’ Depression

REN Wei; HUANG Rong

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Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2026, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (1) : 145-165.

Research Articles

Protection or Constraint? A Study on the Double-Edged Effects of Restrictive Mediation on Adolescents’ Depression

REN Wei ,
HUANG Rong

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Abstract

In the public discourse shaped by the “media risk” narrative, restrictive mediation has become a widely adopted parenting strategy among Chinese families. This study investigates whether restrictive mediation safeguards adolescents’ mental health by curbing entertainment-oriented Internet use or, conversely, exacerbates depression by triggering reactance towards parental authority. Based on survey data from 7,965 adolescents, the results show that frequent restrictions indeed reduce entertainment-oriented Internet use, thereby lowering adolescents’ depression. However, these restrictions also provoke reactance towards parental authority, which not only directly harms mental health but also increases engagement in entertainment-oriented Internet use, undermining the intended protective effects. Notably, in families with better parent-child communication, restrictive mediation can significantly enhance adolescents’ mental health without triggering reactance, allowing its protective effects to prevail. This study highlights the complexity and context-dependency of restrictive mediation effects, offering valuable insights for optimizing digital parenting practices.

Key words

Restrictive mediation / adolescent depression / entertaining-oriented Internet use / reactance toward parental authority / parent-child communication

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REN Wei , HUANG Rong. Protection or Constraint? A Study on the Double-Edged Effects of Restrictive Mediation on Adolescents’ Depression[J]. Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication. 2026, 48(1): 145-165

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Funding

Young Scientists Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China “Research on Adolescent Digital Resilience from Ecological Systems Perspective: Current Status, Influencing Mechanisms, and Enhancing Strategies”(72404223)