Materialism and psychological insecurity are critical constructs in child and adolescent psychological adaptation, yet the directionality and dynamics of their relationship remain contested. This study employed a longitudinal cross-lagged panel network analysis to examine the temporal interplay between these constructs among migrant and non-migrant children, assessing a total of 1034 participants (374 migrants and 660 non-migrants) at two time points. Results revealed that (1) Materialism exerted a stronger predictive effect on psychological insecurity than vice versa. Specifically, the dimension 'success defined by possessions' emerged as the primary driver of insecurity across both groups. (2) Network structures differed systematically between groups: migrant children exhibited denser connectivity and stronger directional pathways from materialism to psychological insecurity. Within these networks, 'interpersonal insecurity' emerged as the most vulnerable node. These findings challenge traditional compensation mechanisms theories by highlighting the predominant role of materialism-particularly among children with migration experiences-in intensifying psychological insecurity. The study provides empirical support for the development of targeted, population-sensitive interventions aimed at fostering healthy psychological development in diverse youth populations.
peng et al. (Sun,) studied this question.