Association of relative deprivation with social withdrawal and its underlying mechanisms: A large cross-sectional study among Chinese migrant adolescents

Despite existing studies showing that relative deprivation is a risk factor for migrant populations’ social withdrawal, the underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. The current study used a moderated mediation model to investigate perceived social support as a possible mediator and in-group identity as a possible moderator in the relationship between relative deprivation and social withdrawal. A large sample of 1772 Chinese migrant adolescents completed questionnaires that measured relative deprivation, social withdrawal, perceived social support, and in-group identity. Relative deprivation was significantly and positively correlated with migrant adolescents’ social withdrawal, and perceived social support partially mediated this relationship. Moreover, in-group identity moderated the indirect effect of relative deprivation on social withdrawal via perceived social support, with a high level of in-group identity weakening the association between relative deprivation and perceived social support. It is recommended that parents and educators pay closer attention to adolescents’ perceived social support and in-group identity to provide appropriate interventions.