Background Peer victimization is a crucial risk predictor for adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, adolescent NSSI reactions to peer victimization exhibit large individual differences. This study explored whether depression mediated the association between peer victimization and adolescent NSSI, and whether this mediating path was moderated by the 5-HTR2A gene rs6313 polymorphism. Methods A total of 667 adolescents (Meanage = 12.81, SD = 0.48) completed questionnaires regarding peer victimization, depression, and NSSI. Genomic DNA was extracted from saliva and buccal cells from each participant. Results The results showed that the positive relation between peer victimization and adolescent NSSI was mediated by depression. Moreover, the triple interaction between peer victimization, rs6313 polymorphism, and gender on adolescent depression was significant. And the triple interaction between depression, rs6313 polymorphism, and gender on adolescent NSSI was also significant. Specifically, the risk effect of peer victimization on adolescent NSSI through increased depression was stronger for female adolescents with CC genotype than for female adolescents with CT or TT genotype, and male adolescents with CT or TT genotype. However, the indirect effect was nonsignificant for male adolescents with CC genotype. Conclusions These findings promote the etiological understanding of adolescent NSSI, highlighting the mediating and moderating effect between peer victimization and NSSI, and adding evidence supporting the relationship between the 5-HTR2A gene rs6313 polymorphism, depression and adolescent NSSI.

Adolescent internet gaming addiction (IGA) has become a serve public health problem, particularly in China. Despite the fact that the school climate has a significant impact on teenage IGA, little research has looked into the underlying mediating processes. This cross-sectional study looked at the impact of adolescents’ perceptions of their school climate (including teacher–student support, student–student support, and opportunities for autonomy) on IGA in a sample of 1053 Chinese adolescents (Meanage = 13.52 years; 52.4% females) using convenient sampling methodology, as well as whether deviant peer affiliation mediated this association. Adolescents’ school climate, IGA, and deviant peer affiliation were examined using the School Climate Questionnaire, Internet Gaming Addiction Scale, and two validated tools in this study. The results showed that teacher–student support and student–student support were both negatively associated with IGA, and that these correlations were mediated by deviant peer affiliation. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Existing research suggests that parent-adolescent conflict is associated with increased risk for adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, adolescent NSSI reactions to parent-adolescent conflicts exhibit large individual differences. This study sought to explore whether depressive symptoms mediates the relationship between parent-adolescent conflict and adolescent NSSI, and whether this mediating process is moderated by the COMT gene rs4680 polymorphism. A total of 673 adolescents (364 males, 309 females) in the age range of 12 to 15 years (Meanage = 12.81 years, SD = 0.48) completed questionnaires regarding parent-adolescent conflict, depressive symptoms, and NSSI. Genomic DNA was extracted from saliva and buccal cells from each participant. Bootstrapping techniques displayed statistically significant moderated mediation. The results showed that the positive association between parent-adolescent conflict and adolescent NSSI was in fact mediated by depressive symptoms. Moreover, this indirect link was moderated by the COMT gene rs4680 polymorphism. Specifically, the risk effect of parent-adolescent conflict on adolescent NSSI via depressive symptoms was stronger for adolescents with Val/Val genotype than for those with Met/Met or Val/Met genotype. These findings underscore the importance of examining the interaction between genes and the environment to understand how and when parent-adolescent conflict impacts adolescent NSSI.

The coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak has the potential to trigger declines in individual mental health, potentially in the form of depressive symptoms. However, few studies have explored factors protective of mental health during the ongoing pandemic. For the sustainable development of individual health, this study was conducted during the pandemic and examines the relationship between gratitude and symptoms of depression, as well as the moderating effect of psychological capital. Latent variable structural equation modeling was used to analyze depressive symptoms and protective factors in 3123 college students. This study measures gratitude, depressive symptoms, and psychological capital, using the Gratitude Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire‐9, and the Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire, respectively. Gratitude was negatively related to depressive symptoms, with psychological capital as a moderator of the relationship. Specifically, psychological capital had a powerful protective effect against depressive symptoms. Students with high psychological capital had lower depressive symptoms than those with low psychological capital, regardless of their level of gratitude. In students with low psychological capital, gratitude had a protective effect against depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that psychological capital is a powerful protective factor against depressive symptoms during a pandemic and improving psychological capital could enhance mental health.

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