Does Peer Rejection Moderate the Associations among Cyberbullying Victimization, Depression, and Anxiety among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Abstract

While the consequences of cyberbullying victimization have received some attention in the literature, to date, little is known about the multiple types of strains in adolescents’ lives, such as whether cyberbullying victimization and peer rejection increase their vulnerability to depression and anxiety. Even though some research found that adolescents with disabilities show higher risk for cyberbullying victimization, most research has focused on typically developing adolescents. Thus, the present study focused on examining the moderating effect of peer rejection in the relationships between cyberbullying victimization, depression, and anxiety among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. There were 128 participants (89% male; ages ranging from 11–16 years old) with autism spectrum disorder in the sixth, seventh, or eighth grade at 16 middle schools in the United States. Participants completed questionnaires on cyberbullying victimization, peer rejection, depression, and anxiety. Results revealed that cyberbullying victimization was associated positively with peer rejection, anxiety, and depression among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Further, peer rejection was linked positively with depression and anxiety. Peer rejection moderated the positive relationship between cyberbullying victimization and depression, but not anxiety. Implications for prevention programs and future research are discussed.

Cross-National Associations Among Cyberbullying Victimization, Self-Esteem, and Internet Addiction: Direct and Indirect Effects of Alexithymia

“…Along the same line, compulsive internet users had been shown to be socially isolated and lack social support and bonding, which is why they try to compensate for these social deficits by engaging in excessive online activities (Stodt et al, 2016). These characteristics are consistent with characteristics of cyberbullying victims who are excluded from peer activities and have fewer friends and positive peer relationships (Campbell et al, 2012;Wachs, 2012;Wright and Wachs, 2019). There is some empirical evidence based on cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that cyberbullying victims show higher risk for internet addiction (Mishna et al, 2012;Gámez-Guadix et al, 2013;Jung et al, 2014).…”

“…Particularly during adolescence, peer acceptance and relationships are important to adolescents' self-esteem development (Tetzner et al, 2017). However, adolescents who are cyberbullied, namely, excluded, harassed, and/or denigrated repeatedly, often withdraw offline from peers and family (Ortega Barón et al, 2019); they also experience higher levels of peer rejection as compared with adolescents who do not experience cyberbullying victimization (Wright and Wachs, 2019). Therefore, cyberbullied adolescents may socialize less with others and therefore experience fewer positive interactions which in turn contributes to an inability to develop a positive sense of self.…”

Peer Victimization

“…More recently, studies have also examined cybervictimization in those with ASD, finding similarly high rates as those found in more traditional types of peer victimization. Further, cybervictimization was associated with depression and anxiety (Ashburner et al 2019;Kowalski and Fedina 2011;Wright and Wachs 2019).…”

“…Among adolescents with ASD, peer victimization has also been found to be associated with internalizing problems such as symptoms of depression and anxiety (Adams et al 2014;Cappadocia et al 2012;Rosbrook and Whittingham 2010;Storch et al 2012;Ung et al 2016;Wright and Wachs 2019). This association is particularly significant given that lifetime estimates of internalizing disorders for those with ASD are as high as 52% for depression and 65% for anxiety disorders, compared to rates of 5% and 20% reported in TD adolescents (Costello et al 2005a, b;Lever and Geurts 2016;Leyfer et al 2006;van Steensel et al 2011).…”

“…Rates. Numerous studies indicate that individuals with ASD tend to be viewed less positively by their typically developing (TD) peers (Bauminger and Kasari 2000;Chamberlain et al 2007;Symes 2010, 2011;Jones and Frederickson 2010;Locke et al 2010;Lyons et al 2011;Petrina et al 2014;Wright and Wachs 2019). Thus, it is not surprising that children and adolescents with ASD are commonly targeted for peer victimization.…”