Exploring the Impact of Maternal Modeling and Restrictive Mediation on Adolescents’ Short Video Use: Insights from Mother−Adolescent Dyads

This study investigated the dual roles of mothers as models and regulators in influencing adolescents’ short video use (A-SVU). Using survey data from 7,509 Chinese mother−adolescent dyads, the study confirmed a positive modeling effect, demonstrating that maternal short video use significantly increased adolescent usage. Restrictive mediation, however, presented a more complex picture: general restrictive mediation showed an inverted U-shape relationship with A-SVU, while more specific restrictions were associated with reduced A-SVU. The style of restriction also mattered; applying restriction in an autonomy-supportive style decreased A-SVU, whereas controlling and inconsistent styles led to a counterproductive effect. Subsequent moderation analysis suggested that this boomerang effect was most pronounced when mothers used short videos infrequently but applied restrictions in a controlling manner. These findings were cross-validated by both adolescent-reported and mother-reported restrictive mediation, with adolescent-reported restrictive mediation serving as stronger predictors of A-SVU than mothers’ reports.