The Effects of Cyberbullying Victimization and Personality Characteristics on Adolescent Mental Health: An Application of the Stress Process Model

Abstract

Although a considerable body of research has documented the association between victimization experience and adolescent mental health, previous studies have not investigated the mediating effects of personality characteristics such as social competence and self-mastery on the associations between cyberbullying victimization and mental health. This study aims to fill in this research gap. Random group sampling based on grade was employed, and a total of 607 adolescents (51.07% females, Mage = 15.04) were recruited to participate in the study. The findings of the present study partially supported the hypotheses. Specifically, the results showed that cyberbullying victimization was positively associated with social anxiety and depression. Self-mastery was found to mediate the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and symptoms of depression and social anxiety. Social competence was found to be negatively related to social anxiety, but no mediating effect was found between cyberbullying victimization and symptoms of mental health. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

The impact of bullying and cyberbullying on mental health: a systematic review

“…Anxiety and depression in adolescent victims of cyberbullying are higher in female adolescents. In connection with this explanation, it is in accordance with several research results that explain that bullying and cyberbullying will be related to anxiety, stress, and depression, and this has a reciprocal relationship [25], [26], [35]- [44].…”

Personal Resources, Emotion Regulation, Parenting Style, Social Support On Cyberbullying Victims: A Literature Review

“…Proactive behavior and knowledge about steps to deal with cyberbullying/intimidation are important for teenagers [4]. These skills are useful for socioemotional development, friendship formation, and behavioral socialization in children and adolescents in establishing relationships with peers [25].…”

“…The results of the school population show that cyberbullying victims vary from 10% to 53% which describes the phenomenon in all age groups of students [27]. Cyberbullying has a significant negative impact on emotion well being in adolescents which is shown as negative feelings and emotions such as stress, sorrowful, angry, frustrated, shame, lonely, fright, heaviness, desire for revenge and suicidal idea [4,12,19,25]. Cyberbullying also has an impact on behavior problems such as juvenile delinquency, violence and bad value shift and functions at school until dropping out and withdrawing from the social environment [20].…”

Does Religion Buffer Against the Detrimental Effect of Cyberbullying Victimization on Adults’ Health and Well-Being? Evidence from the 2014 Canadian General Social Survey

“…While prior research has well established the detrimental health and well-being consequences of cyberbullying victimization among children and adolescents ( Bonanno & Hymel, 2013 ; Chai et al, 2020 ; Cole et al, 2016 ; Fisher et al, 2016 ; Hinduja & Patchin, 2019 ; Kowalski & Limber, 2013 ; Kowalski et al, 2014 ; Martínez-Monteagudo et al, 2020 ; Perret et al, 2020 ; Ranney et al, 2016 ; Torres et al, 2020 ; Vaillancourt et al, 2017 ; Vieno et al, 2015 ), it remains unclear about whether the same adverse pattern can be observed among adults. Despite the potential adverse consequences of cyberbullying victimization ( Chu et al, 2018 ; Wang, 2021 ), it is plausible that many adults might have heard or experienced cyberbullying when they were younger, which would give them an advantage over children and adolescents. Coupled with more developed cognitive and coping skills, adults might consider cyberbullying victimization as a temporary and normal part of life and therefore feel less threatened.…”

“…Aligned with the prediction of the stress process model ( Pearlin & Bierman, 2013 ), cyberbullying can be conceptualized as a prominent social stressor ( Chu et al, 2018 ; Wang, 2021 ), which limits one’s capacity to access coping resources, thereby contributing to adverse health and well-being consequences. Past research has found evidence supporting this claim among children and adolescents.…”