Perception, use of social media, and its impact on the mental health of Indian adolescents: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Mental illness is a health challenge faced by adolescents that has grown worse after the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Research on social media and young people's mental health has recently increased, and numerous studies have examined whether frequent use of social media is linked to issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, eating disorders, insomnia, frustration, feeling alone, and externalizing problems among adolescents. This influence of social media on adolescents' lives is clear, with many platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube playing an important role in daily interactions and self-expression. Even though social media offers numerous benefits, such as connectivity and information sharing, excessive usage can have detrimental effects on mental health, particularly among adolescents. AIM: To study the impact of social media on the mental wellbeing of adolescents, and the associated potential dangers in India. METHODS: A total of 204 adolescents aged 14 years to 23 years were included in the study. This study explored the intricate relationship between social media usage and adolescent mental health in India. The study employs a cross-sectional survey design to capture a snapshot of adolescent mental health and social media usage patterns. Data collection involved administering structured questionnaires and the analysis utilized quantitative methods, including descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Excessive use of social media is correlated with increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Adolescents engage in compulsive behaviors such as scrolling in the middle of the night, which negatively impacts their mental and physical health, and leads to significant sleep disruption. Findings from the study aim to provide insights into the current state of adolescent mental health and inform strategies to promote positive wellbeing in the Indian population. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the need for further research to better understand the complex interplay between social media and adolescent mental health, and need for effective strategies to combat online harassment.

The Relationship Between Epidemic Perception and Cyberbullying Behaviors of Chinese Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the government initiated measures for social distancing, leading to a gradual transition of adolescents' social interactions toward web-based platforms. Consequently, web-based behaviors, particularly cyberbullying, have become a prominent concern. Considering that adolescents experience more intense feelings, the widely increased negative emotions and strains perceived from the COVID-19 pandemic may end up engaging in cyberbullying behaviors. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents experiencing insomnia and negative affect are more prone to diminished self-control, which is associated with cyberbullying behaviors. Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between epidemic perception and cyberbullying behaviors, while also examining the serial mediating roles of insomnia and negative affect on the relationship between epidemic perception and cyberbullying behaviors. Methods: This study presents a large-scale web-based survey conducted during the period of concentrated COVID-19 outbreaks, encompassing 20,000 Chinese adolescents. A total of 274 submitted questionnaires were discarded because of high levels of missing data or their answers were clearly fictitious or inconsistent. The final count of valid participants amounted to 19,726 (10,371 boys, age range: 12-18 years; mean 14.80, SD 1.63 years). The Perceptions of COVID-19 Scale, Negative Affect Scale, Insomnia Scale, and Cyberbullying Behavior Scale were used to assess participants' responses on the Questionnaire Star platform. Results: The results show that epidemic perception is positively correlated with cyberbullying behaviors (r=0.13; P<.001), insomnia (r=0.19; P<.001), and negative affect (r=0.25; P<.001). Insomnia is positively correlated with negative affect (r=0.44; P<.001) and cyberbullying behaviors (r=0.30; P<.001). Negative affect is positively correlated with cyberbullying behaviors (r=0.25; P<.001). And insomnia and negative affect play independent mediating and serial mediating roles in epidemic perception and cyberbullying behaviors. Conclusions: This study provides additional empirical evidence on the relationship between the perception of COVID-19 pandemic and cyberbullying in adolescents. In addition, the study offers recommendations for implementing interventions targeted at mitigating cyberbullying in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prevalence of cyberbullying involvement and its association with clinical correlates among Chinese college students.

BACKGROUND: Cyberbullying refers to a modern form of bullying that could be practiced electronically or on the Internet. This study conducted a cross-sectional survey to explore different types of cyberbullying involvement (CI) and the associations of CI with demographic characteristics and mental health problems among Chinese college students. METHODS: A total sample of 18,578 Chinese college students were recruited (68.1 % female, mean age = 20.07 years) from October 17 to 29, 2023. All participants completed self-reported web-based questionnaires on demographic characteristics, CI, sleep disturbance, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. RESULTS: More than a quarter of participants (27.5 %) have been involved in cyberbullying: specifically speaking, 10.1 % cybervictims, 4.7 % cyberbullies, and 12.7 % both (cyberbully-victims). Males, younger age, left-behind experiences, individuals with poorer family economic status, adolescents with chronic physical illness, and those with family history of mental disorders are more likely to experience CI. Unlike participants without CI, cybervictims and cyberbully-victims reported a higher risk of sleep disturbance, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Cyberbullies also have a higher rate of sleep disturbance and depression than their peers who are not involved in cyberbullying. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that CI is widespread among Chinese college students, and CI is associated with the high reported rates of a series of psychopathology. This study highlights the significance of implementing anti-cyberbullying interventions specifically targeted at college students. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of monitoring changes in students' mental health status throughout the intervention process.

Cluster Analysis in Victims of Perceived Cyberbullying at the Higher Education Level.

A number of studies have demonstrated the prevalence of cyberbullying in university settings. The objective of this research is to conduct a cluster analysis to categorize victims according to the nature of the behavior they have received and to examine the relationship between gender and intention to drop out. To this end, the Online Victimization Questionnaire was administered to a sample of 800 first-year students at a university in northern Spain who had opted to participate in the study. All analyses were conducted using the SPSS statistical software, version 27.0. Results indicate the presence of four clusters: Cluster 4 (73.625%) exhibited no instances of cyberbullying behaviors. Cluster 1 (21.875%), which exhibited low scores across all cyberbullying behaviors except identity manipulation, was the most prevalent. Cluster 2 (3.125%) demonstrated high scores for public aggression and social isolation. Finally, Cluster 3 (1.375%) exhibited high scores for all cyberbullying behaviors. Furthermore, gender differences play a significant role in the formation of these clusters. It is therefore evident that there are various profiles of cyberbullying victims, which both public policies and educational programs should be aware of in order to adapt their prevention strategies. This is also a factor that affects university dropout prevention programs.

Exploring the Link Between Cyber Victimization and Depression.

Cyber victimization is strongly and positively associated with depressive symptoms in adolescence. Identifying mechanisms of this association is imperative to benefit adolescents' mental health. Applying the General Aggression Model in a theoretically novel way, this study examined a complex mediational pathway between cyber victimization and depressive symptoms. Two hundred seventy-seven adolescent participants (M age = 15.84; 65.7% females) reported their own cyber victimization experiences, depressive symptoms, and cognitive, emotional, and behavioral attributions in response to a hypothetical cyber victimization scenario. Path analysis within structural equation modeling was used to test a model where cyber victimization predicted depressive symptoms through characterological self-blame cognitions, sadness emotions, and passive avoidance behaviors. Characterological self-blame was found to partially mediate the positive and significant association between cyber victimization and depressive symptoms. Sadness emotions and passive avoidance behaviors did not emerge as significant mediators. The findings implicate the importance of cognitions in explaining the association between cyber victimization and depression and suggest incorporating cognitive re-framing education into anti-cyberbullying prevention programs.

Influence of TikTok on Body Satisfaction Among Generation Z in Indonesia: Mixed Methods Approach.

BACKGROUND: As social media platforms gain popularity, their usage is increasingly associated with cyberbullying and body shaming, causing devastating effects. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the impact of social media on Generation Z users' body image satisfaction. More specifically, it examines the impact of TikTok on body image satisfaction among TikTok users aged between 17 years and 26 years in Indonesia. METHODS: The methodology used mixed-method approaches. Quantitative data were obtained from 507 responses to a questionnaire and analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling. Qualitative data were obtained from the interviews of 32 respondents and analyzed through content analysis. RESULTS: This study reveals that upward appearance comparison is influenced by video-based activity and appearance motivation. Conversely, thin-ideal internalization is influenced by appearance motivation and social media literacy. Upward appearance comparisons and thin-ideal internalization comparisons detrimentally impact users' body image satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study are expected to provide valuable insights for social media providers, regulators, and educators in their endeavors to establish a positive and healthy social media environment for users.

Exploring the Relationship Between Cyberbullying and Technology Addiction in Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to investigate the relationship between cyberbullying/victimization and technology addiction among Turkish adolescents. DESIGN AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 572 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18. The study employed the Bullying and Cyber Bullying Scale for Adolescents (BCS-A) to evaluate cyber victimization (BCS-A VCSs) and cyberbullying (BCS-A BCSs) subdimensions, in conjunction with the Technology Addiction Scale (TAS). RESULTS: Among adolescents, 38.5% exhibited a moderate level of technology addiction. The results revealed positive and weak correlations between TAS scores and BCS-A VCSs (p < 0.001), as well as between BCS-A VCSs and BCS-A BCSs scores at a moderate level (p < 0.001). The study revealed that exposure to inappropriate content, encountering humiliating expressions on social media, sending inappropriate messages or videos to friends, and facing threats were significant predictors of BCS-A VCS scores. Furthermore, the transmission of inappropriate messages or videos, the encounter of cyberbullying victims, the exclusion of friends from online platforms, the experience of distress caused by humiliating expressions, and the sharing of private content were identified as significant predictors of the total BCS-A BCSs score. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated a correlation between elevated technology addiction and involvement in cyberbullying or victimization among adolescents. Moreover, the study identified significant predictors of cyberbullying and cyber victimization. It is recommended that health professionals develop intervention programs for safe technology use and the prevention of cyberbullying and victimization. These programs should aim to raise societal awareness, particularly among parents and teachers.

Prevalence and patterns of workplace cyberbullying among dental and medical undergraduate students. A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Cyberbullying is an act of bullying that is conducted through the use of technology in an online mode such as over social media platforms or via text-based messages. It is an intentionally repeated aggressive activity in which harm is inflicted on a person using electronic media. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of workplace cyberbullying in undergraduate students inmedical and dental streams. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used a mixed explanatory cross-sectional study design by making use of a structured questionnaire for the survey. This "two-phase" mixed design utilized qualitative data for the explanation of quantitative observations. The selected study subjects were three hundred undergraduate medical and dental students. To obtain data, an electronically fabricated questionnaire (i.e. Google Form) consisting of open- and closed-ended questions was distributed. All questions were designed for studying prevalence and patterns of cyberbullying that had been experienced by the victims. Obtained data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science software version 20.0 (SPSS v20.0) based on a Likert-based questionnaire scale in which responses were recorded in "yes" or "no" format. The statistical tool employed was the "Chi-square" test. RESULTS: On analysis of the level of knowledge, 92% of the study sample was aware of cyberbullying as different from the physical form of bullying. The most commonly employed tools for handling cyberbullying were conferencing (0.66% of cases) and disciplinary tools (5% of cases). 14.33% of cases involved the use of investigations, and 2.66% made use of victim counseling. Most of the students, along with their parents (89%), were of the opinion that teachers must have active participation in cyberbullying cases. On statistical comparison, the P-value was found to be less than 0.05. CONCLUSION: In the present study, cases of cyberbullying were found to be less prevalent in medical and dental undergraduate students although there was knowledge regarding this form of bullying in studied participants.

When Is It Helpful to Get Involved? Adolescents' Perceptions of Constructive and Aggressive Bystander Support from Friends, Acquaintances, and Public Figures in Cyberbullying.

The present study examines adolescents' perceptions of both constructive and aggressive forms of bystander support and how these perceptions differ according to whether an acquaintance of the target, a friend of the target or a public figure is providing it. Ninety-nine adolescents between 13 and 17 years old (Mage = 14.42; SD = 1.35) participated in this study. Adolescents viewed a total of nine videos, each depicting a public cyberbullying situation on Instagram and a form of constructive or aggressive bystander support from an acquaintance, a friend, or a public figure in relation to the target of cyberbullying. After each video, adolescents were asked how helpful or hurtful the bystander's form of support was on a Likert-type scale. A significant relationship was found between the bystander's relationship to the target, the form of support and the helpfulness of bystander support. Overall, support from friends was perceived as helpful regardless of whether it was constructive or aggressive. Moreover, it was seen as harmful for acquaintances to engage in aggressive behaviours in support of targets of cyberbullying, but generally helpful for public figures to engage in those same behaviours.

Collisions and Perceptions of Cyberbullying: Comparison of Intergenerational Experiences.

With regard to negative consequences, cyberbullying is recognized as one of the most traumatic types of cyber aggression. The aim is to study the specific features of adolescents and youth's cyberbullying experience in the role of an aggressor, victim or bystander, as well as awareness on the part of parents of adolescents. A total of 3395 adolescents, youth and parents filled out specially designed questionnaires. Older adolescents turned out to be at higher risk of cyberbullying. In two-thirds of cases, cyberbullying is related to real-life incidents. Aggressors are motivated by domination and entertainment, primarily employing strategies of social exclusion, harassment and denigration. As victims of cyberbullying, younger adolescents turn to their parents and friends for social support, whereas older adolescents and young adults are more likely turn to their peers. In the role of a bystander, almost half of younger adolescents and about a third of older adolescents and young adults choose the prosocial strategy of protecting a victim. The parents often underestimate the experience of encountering cyberbullying or find it difficult to assess such experience. The identified risk groups and strategies and the lack of parents' awareness are important to take into account when drawing up cyberbullying prevention programs.

The Relationship between Laissez-Faire Leadership and Cyberbullying at Work: The Role of Interpersonal Conflicts.

A person can experience cyberbullying at work when exposed to repetitive and intrusive negative acts facilitated by new information and communication technologies (ICTs). The incidence of workplace cyberbullying has rapidly increased following the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue does not arise in isolation; leadership plays a critical role. Leaders who fail to set clear rules and provide minimal supervision may exacerbate interpersonal conflicts among subordinates. This study explores the role of laissez-faire leadership and interpersonal conflicts on workplace cyberbullying from a gender perspective. A two-wave panel study was conducted (N = 1995; 53.6% women; M age = 42.02 years old; SD = 9.23; age range: 18-74 years old). Our findings indicate no direct relationship between laissez-faire leadership and workplace cyberbullying; however, there is a significant indirect relationship. Laissez-faire leadership is associated with a higher frequency of interpersonal conflicts, which in turn are related to cyberbullying, making interpersonal conflicts a mediator. Additionally, gender moderates the relationship between interpersonal conflicts and workplace cyberbullying. Our results suggest that interpersonal conflicts may increase exposure to cyberbullying, particularly for men under laissez-faire leadership. These findings have managerial implications for introducing tailored interventions to prevent workplace cyberbullying.

Exploring the associations between symptom severity, metacognition, problematic social media use and cyberbullying in treatment naïve adolescents with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.

This study investigates the relationship between ADHD symptom severity, metacognition, problematic social media use, and cyberbullying/cybervictimization in treatment-naïve adolescents. Understanding these relationships is vital for enhancing ADHD intervention strategies. Using a cross-sectional design, 97 adolescents meeting DSM-5 criteria for ADHD without any comorbidity and 97 healthy controls were assessed. Measures included the Metacognitions Questionnaire for Children, Social Media Disorder Scale, Revised Cyberbullying Inventory-II, and Revised Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Short. The comparisons were performed with independent samples' t tests and the associations were estimated by using Pearson's bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses. Results revealed that adolescents with ADHD exhibited higher levels of dysfunctional metacognitions, problematic social media use, cyberbullying, and cybervictimization compared to controls. Regression analysis showed significant positive associations between ADHD symptoms, specific metacognitions (e.g., positive meta-worry, cognitive monitoring), and problematic social media use. This study, the first of its kind among treatment-naïve ADHD adolescents, provides valuable insights into the relationship between ADHD symptoms and particular metacognitions (i.e. positive meta-worry, cognitive monitoring) and problematic social media use. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of ADHD in adolescence and may inform the development of targeted prevention and treatment strategies, particularly relevant given adolescents' susceptibility to social media's influence and their potential for cognitive flexibility in rehabilitation contexts.

Cyberbullying and Suicidal Behavior, Self-Harm, and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies.

Aim: Identify and systematically review cohort studies examining the association between cyberbullying (CB) and suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, self-harm, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Methods: Systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines. Searches for relevant literature were conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, PsyINFO, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane up until July 2023. Cohort studies were included that provided information regarding the association between CB and different dimensions pertaining to self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB) separately. Gathered information included data on study characteristics, sample characteristics, prevalence, and associations between CB and variables pertaining to SITB. Findings were synthesized, and grouping studies as a function of the outcome variable was analyzed. Results: A total of 19 studies were included. Suicidal ideation was analyzed in 11 studies, with the majority (n = 8) reporting statistically significant positive associations (aOR = 1.88 [1.08, 3.29], ß = 0.08 to 0.47). Only a single study conducted independent analysis of attempted suicide, finding a statistically significant association (aOR 1.88 [1.08, 3.29]). Outcomes regarding the self-harm variable were equivocal, with only two out of five studies finding a statistically significant association and one of these, which conducted a gender differentiated analysis, only finding a significant association in females. Studies that considered the NSSI dimension were also inconclusive, with only a limited number of studies (n = 5) producing contradictory outcomes. Conclusion: There is a need to continue exploring the relationship between CB and different dimensions within the spectrum of SITB through longitudinal studies. It is recommended that analyses adopt a new perspective in which short-term follow-up is prioritized or individualized follow-up periods are considered, given the rapidly changing nature of suicidal tendencies. It would be interesting to analyze the frequency, persistence, or severity of CB events and broaden research to include all age ranges. Special attention should also be given to potential gender differences and possible mediators or moderators.

Homophobic Bullying, Traditional Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Adolescents According to Their Sexual Orientation.

Recent studies suggest that traditional bullying, cyberbullying, and homophobic bullying lead to a low health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents. The present study aims to analyze this, paying particular attention to homophobic bullying, based on the sexual orientation of 815 adolescents who were asked to fill in a self-report questionnaire. In heterosexuals, both homophobic victimization and victimization were inversely related to different dimensions of HRQoL (moods and emotions, and school environment, respectively). In adolescents who were uncertain about their sexual orientation, there were inverse relationships between homophobic victimization and mood and social acceptance, and there was also a positive relationship between homophobic aggression and physical well-being. In homosexuals and bisexuals, homophobic victimization was inversely related to social acceptance, economic resources, and autonomy, while homophobic aggression was not related to HRQoL. The results obtained offer new insights, thanks to the use of a specific and validated instrument to record homophobic bullying that covers both homophobic victimization and homophobic aggression. In addition, the need to intervene in a holistic manner, involving political and social agents, as well as all actors implicated in the school environment, is discussed with a view to protecting adolescent health and promoting inclusive education.

Impact of Cyberbullying on Academic Performance and Psychosocial Well-Being of Italian Students.

Cyberbullying is a growing problem in the Italian educational sector, with a prevalence of 17%. This study analyzes its impact on the psychosocial well-being and academic performance of Italian adolescents. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 502 students from six schools in different Italian regions, using the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIPQ) to assess cyberbullying, in addition to collecting data on satisfaction, friends, and academic performance. Chi-square and ANOVA analyses were conducted to identify significant associations between the variables. RESULTS: The analyses showed significant associations between cyberbullying and gender and in psychosocial well-being, with significant differences in personal satisfaction and body satisfaction. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in academic performance or in the ability to make new friends, although victims showed a significantly lower ability to make new friends compared to those who were neither victims nor aggressors. CONCLUSIONS: Cyberbullying has a significant impact on students' psychosocial well-being, especially on personal satisfaction and school happiness, making it essential to implement interventions that promote safe school environments to mitigate these negative effects.

Appearance-related cyberbullying and its association with the desire to alter physical appearance among adolescent females.

Cyberbullying is associated with various mental health concerns in adolescents, including body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviours. However, there is a significant research gap concerning the unique effects of appearance-related cyberbullying (ARC) on adolescent mental health. This study examined the prevalence and psychological consequences of ARC among middle to late adolescent females (aged 14-19 years, Mage = 15.98, N = 336). Participants completed an online survey regarding their experiences of ARC, body image variables, and eating disorder symptomology. Findings indicate the widespread occurrence of ARC among adolescent females, with body shape and size emerging as predominant targets. Experiences of ARC-victimisation positively correlated with increased concerns about body shape, body shame, and eating disorder symptomology. Conversely, experiences of ARC-victimisation were negatively correlated with body esteem and body appreciation. Finally, appearance-related cybervictimisation was significantly associated with adolescent females' desire to pursue appearance alterations through methods such as dieting and exercising, altering self-presentation, and undergoing cosmetic procedures due to perceived experiences of ARC. These findings highlight the urgent need for preventative measures, such as age-appropriate social media policies and health promotion programs that encourage positive online behaviour, and strategies to address the impacts of ARC to protect the mental well-being of adolescent females.

Cyberbullying directed towards appearance is a serious problem for many adolescent females. Our study examined how often this type of cyberbullying happens online and its impact on females aged 14­19. We found that many adolescent females experience appearance-related cyberbullying, where they are teased or insulted about their body shape, weight, or physical features. These experiences make them more likely to feel bad about their bodies, leading to harmful behaviours like extreme dieting or considering cosmetic surgery. These findings highlight the urgent need for action from schools, parents, and social media platforms to prevent this form of cyberbullying and support those affected.

The Associations among Cyberbullying Victimization and Chinese and American Adolescents' Mental Health Issues: The Protective Role of Perceived Parental and Friend Support.

Researchers have focused on identifying factors that may mitigate the negative consequences associated with cyberbullying victimization. A significant factor that has received considerable attention is perceived social support from parents and friends and its potential to reduce the risk of cyberbullying victimization and the associated negative mental health issues. However, the buffering effects of perceived social support from parents and friends on the longitudinal relationships among cyberbullying victimization, depression, subjective health complaints, and self-harm have been less explored, particularly in cross-cultural contexts. To address this gap, the present study examined the role of perceived social support from parents and friends in buffering against depression, subjective health complaints, and self-harm, measured one year later, associated with cyberbullying victimization among 463 Chinese (49% female) and 445 American (52% female) eighth graders (ages 13-15). They completed self-report questionnaires on cyberbullying victimization, perceived social support from parents and friends, and mental health (i.e., depression, subjective health complaints, self-harm). One year later, they completed the same mental health questionnaires. The findings revealed no differences in reports of perceived support from parents, but greater reports of social support from friends for American adolescents when compared to Chinese adolescents. High levels of perceived social support from parents were associated with a stronger negative relationship between cyberbullying victimization, depression, subjective health complaints, and self-harm for both Chinese and American adolescents, with these effects being more pronounced for Chinese adolescents, while opposite patterns were found for American adolescents and perceived social support from friends. These results are discussed in the context of cultural values and how these values shape the role of adults in adolescents' lives.

Understanding the topical, conceptual, contextual, and methodological trends of cyberbullying research.

BACKGROUND: Cyberbullying research has gained considerable attention among scholars due to the proliferation and diversification of the digital media platforms. Although cyberbullying research has a robust empirical nature, the research is more difficult to define and deserves close investigation. In response to the situation, we have examined topics, forms, context, media, predictive factors, outcomes, utilization of methodology, and research trends in cyberbullying research from 2014 to 2023. METHODS: This study analyzed 3,588 articles to investigate the trend and development of cyberbullying research using the Scopus academic databases. RESULTS: 85.87% of research focused on cyberbullying as 'social issues'. 71.57% of articles focused on cyberbullying itself rather than specific forms of cyberbullying. 50.81% of articles focused on cyberbullying in middle/high school contexts. Most research did not state any predictive factors (39.83%) or outcomes (60.17%) suggested. The predominant research method used in cyberbullying research was via surveys (30.69%), while the second phase of research dominated the cyberbullying research agenda (victims and bullies in cyberbullying). CONCLUSIONS: Although Cyberbullying research has increased, broadened, and diversified over time, it still focuses primarily on the first phase of the research agenda of cyberbullying issues. The findings of this study provides a framework for new insights for future cyberbullying research and practices by suggesting exploration to different mechanisms of cyberbullying such as: victims/bullies, effects, and improvement of cyberbullying beyond the issues of cyberbullying itself.

Mediating role of alexithymia in relationship between cyberbullying and psychotic experiences in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Today, addressing issues related to the use of virtual space is of paramount importance due to its significant impact on mental well-being. This is especially crucial when the research community consists of teenagers who are cyber bullies or their victims who have higher vulnerability. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between cyberbullying and psychotic experiences in adolescents. METHODS: The research method employed in this study was correlational, and the study population consisted of all male and female middle school students in Tehran during the 2022-2023 academic years. As for data collection, the Cyber-Bullying/Victimization Experiences questionnaire, Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences, and the Toronto Alexithymia scale were applied. A total of 602 samples were gathered by using multi-stage cluster sampling from Tehran in Iran. Four selection of the sample, the regions in Tehran were selected randomly according to the geographical directions of them and then some schools and classes were chosen randomly. Sample was included in the analysis after data entry into SPSS software and subsequent structural equation modeling using AMOS software. RESULTS: According to the findings, cyberbullying (ß = 0.11,p < 0.05) and cyber victimization(ß = 0.41, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of psychotic experiences. Alexithymia partially mediated the relationship between cyberbullying and psychotic experiences with the mediation effect of 0.28 and cyber victimization and psychotic experiences with the mediation effect of 0.18. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of identifying cyber victims or cyberbullies in order to prevent alexithymia and psychotic experiences in future, in order to prevent more serious problems and becoming psychotic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The goals and conditions of this research were investigated and approved by the Ethics Committee of Alzahra University in Tehran (code: ALZAHRA.REC.1402.055) on 13th September 2023.

Do Cyberbullying Victims Feel more Entitled to Bully Others Online? The Moderating Role of Gender.

Previous studies have found that adolescent cyberbullying victimization is associated with cyberbullying perpetration and have explored the potential mediating mechanisms between the two. Although some valuable research has been accumulated, further exploration is needed on the underlying mechanisms of why cyber victims are transformed into cyberbullying perpetrators. Based on the General Aggression Model of Cyberbullying and the Social Role Theory, this study examined the mediating role of psychological entitlement and the moderating role of gender on the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying perpetration. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 836 adolescents, utilizing the cyberbullying victimization scale, cyberbullying perpetration scale, and psychological entitlement questionnaire. The results found that (a) cyberbullying victimization, psychological entitlement, and cyberbullying perpetration were significantly and positively correlated with each other; (b) after controlling for gender and age, cyberbullying victimization significantly and positively predicted cyberbullying perpetration and psychological entitlement mediated the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying perpetration; (c) Gender moderates the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying perpetration. Specifically, compared with the girls, cyberbullying victimization had a greater effect on cyberbullying perpetration among boys. The results of this study suggest that cyberbullying victims consider that they have more entitlement to bully others online. These findings support the General Aggression Model of Cyberbullying and provide new insights for the prevention and intervention of cyberbullying perpetration.