The Impact of Ineffective Parenting Practices on Cyber-Deviance in South Korean Adolescents: Examining the Applicability of General Strain Theory

To examine the applicability of general strain theory (GST) for adolescent cyber deviance, this study examined how ineffective parenting practices affect adolescent cyber deviance, focusing on the mediating role of negative emotions. Using a South nationally representative and longitudinal Korean adolescent sample (n = 2,145), the current study employs Generalized Structural Equation Modeling (GSEM) to investigate the mediating role of depression and aggression between exposure to ineffective parenting practices (i.e., weak supervision, inconsistent parenting, and low warmth) and adolescent cyber deviance. The findings reveal that both depression and aggression significantly mediate the effects of exposure to ineffective parenting practices on adolescent cyber deviance. Based on these results, the theoretical and practical implications are discussed.