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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Prevalence of online sexual harassment and online bullying: a nationwide survey among high school students in Denmark.

Background: Using data from a nationwide survey among high school students in Denmark, the aim of the current study is to measure the prevalence of online bullying and online sexual harassment and assess gender and age differences in exposure. Methods: We used data from the Danish National Youth Study 2019, which is a nationwide web survey among high school students, including general, commercial, preparatory and technical high schools. Data were collected from January to April 2019 through a self-administered questionnaire in the classroom. A total of 29,086 students participated (response rate: 66%). The survey included questions about online sexual harassment (victimization and perpetration) and online bullying. Results: Approximately 11% of students reported receiving sexually offensive inquiries online, and about 10% received a sexual image/video of others without the subjects' consent. Additionally, 4% experienced that other people shared a sexual image/video of them without their consent within the last 12 months. The most common type of online bullying was feeling ignored by others online (25%), followed by someone spreading rumors or writing nasty things about them (13%), and receiving threats/unpleasant messages (12%). Gender results were mixed.

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.

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.

Relationship between cyberbullying, anxiety, and depression among university students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Cyberbullying is online aggressive behavior that involves insulting or threatening others, and can cause severe psychological issues, particularly in students. This is often attributed to the frequency and anonymity of the bullying behaviors. Given the lack of research on this issue in Saudi Arabia, the current study sought to evaluate the prevalence of cyberbullying and its relationship with anxiety, depression, and stress among university students in Jeddah. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved administration of an online questionnaire to 877 university students in Jeddah. Cyberbullying and cybervictimization were assessed using the Revised Cyberbullying Inventory scale (RCBI-II) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21). RESULTS: The majority of students had the experience of being a cyberbully (73%), while 54% had been a victim of cyberbullying. No significant association was found between gender and cyberbullying, with both males and females reporting high rates of cyberbullying. The majority of participants (n = 498) also reported significant depressive symptoms. A significant positive association was found between cyberbullying/cybervictimization and depression, anxiety, and stress. CONCLUSION: A considerable number of university students were found to be victims of cyberbullying, with a strong correlation between cyberbullying and anxiety, depression, and stress, indicating a potential impact on the psychological well-being of students. To address this issue, increased awareness of cyberbullying is needed, along with implementation of preventive measures such as educational campaigns and empathy-building activities among students.

Characteristics and Treatment of Cyberviolence Trauma in Children and Adolescents.

Cyberviolence is a new form of violence encompassing any online activity that results in harm to the psychological, emotional, financial, or physical well-being of an individual or group. These adverse activities often lead to serious offline and long-lasting negative impact, especially on children and adolescents whose development has not matured sufficiently. Therefore, it is more important for mental health professionals to be well informed about the rapidly evolving forms of cyberviolence and its risks and to respond appropriately. This article provides an overview of the concept and unique features of cyberviolence trauma in minors in South Korea while also examining ongoing efforts to explore and implement effective treatment programs. Cyberbullying and digital sexual abuse, the most common forms of cyberviolence experienced by minors in South Korea, are explored in detail. Additionally, this review proposes directions for future research and the efforts that clinicians should focus on.

Parental Warmth, Friendship Quality, Empathy and Bystander Defending Behavior in Cyberbullying Among Adolescents in China.

Adolescents' bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying contributes to reducing the harm done to cyberbullying victims. This study examined the relationships and underlying mechanisms of parental warmth, friendship quality, empathy and bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying among 848 Chinese adolescents (43.986% girls, mean age = 14.960 years old [SD = 1.398]). The results showed that parental warmth, friendship quality and empathy were all positively correlated with bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying among adolescents. Both friendship quality and empathy played a mediating role between parental warmth and bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying, indicating that parental warmth was associated with increased bystander defending behavior through higher levels of friendship quality and empathy, respectively. Friendship quality and empathy also played a chain mediating role between these two, indicating that parental warmth was linked to increased bystander defending behavior by first associating with higher level of friendship quality and subsequently with greater empathy. These results suggest that high degrees of parental warmth, friendship quality and empathy may all increase the likelihood of bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying among adolescents. This study provides practical implications for improving adolescent bystander defending behavior in cyberbullying.

Nursing in the digital age: The role of nursing in addressing cyberbullying and adolescents mental health.

THE RELEVANCE OF OUR STUDY TO MENTAL HEALTH NURSING: What is known on the subject? The study's findings are crucial for mental health nursing, as they highlight the significant impact of cyberbullying on adolescents' mental health in Egypt. What this paper adds to existing knowledge? By establishing a clear link between cyberbullying, family income, and mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, and depression, the research underscores the need for targeted interventions and support systems. What are the implications for practice? Mental health nurses can utilize this information to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies, advocate for policy changes, and educate families and communities. Addressing cyberbullying and its effects can lead to improved mental health outcomes, demonstrating the critical role of mental health nursing in supporting affected adolescents. SUMMARY STATEMENT OF IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: WHAT DOES THIS RESEARCH ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE OF CYBERBULLYING AMONG ADOLESCENTS?: This study brings attention to the widespread occurrence of cyberbullying among adolescents in Egypt and its substantial impact on their mental health. The research indicates that cyberbullying, along with family income, collectively explains more than 60% of the variation in mental health. These results underscore the importance of developing strategies to address cyberbullying and taking socioeconomic factors into account when addressing mental health issues in adolescents. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS NEW KNOWLEDGE FOR NURSING CARE WITH ADOLESCENTS?: School nurses should be knowledgeable about the prevalence and effects of cyberbullying on the mental well-being of teenagers. They need to be equipped to recognize signs of cyberbullying and associated mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Educating adolescents, parents, and school staff about the dangers of cyberbullying and prevention methods is a crucial role that school nurses can play. This may involve teaching safe internet usage, promoting open communication about online experiences, and encouraging positive online behaviour. When evaluating mental health needs and planning care for adolescents, school nurses should consider their economic status. They should advocate for resources and assistance for low-income families to help alleviate the impact of financial stress on mental health. HOW COULD THE FINDINGS INFLUENCE POLICY, PRACTICE, RESEARCH, OR EDUCATION?: It is important to introduce policies that provide financial support to families with lower incomes, as the research has shown a strong connection between a family's monthly income and its members' mental well-being. Educational institutions, including schools, should introduce programs to prevent bullying, with a specific focus on cyberbullying. It would be beneficial for researchers to explore the effectiveness of various interventions in reducing cyberbullying and improving mental health outcomes. It is crucial to integrate education on cyberbullying into school curricula in order to raise awareness about this issue and to teach students how to respond if they or someone they know becomes a victim of cyberbullying. Educating parents and teachers about the indicators of cyberbullying and its potential impact on mental health is important so that they can offer support to adolescents who are experiencing cyberbullying. Further research is needed to address other covariates that could impact cyberbullying, such as addictive personality traits, impulsive seeking behaviours, and parenting styles. ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Cyberbullying, a significant concern in today's digital age, has a profound impact on teenagers' mental health, leading to stress, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and, in severe cases, suicidal ideation. This study aimed to explore the effects of cyberbullying on adolescents' mental health. METHODS: The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive research design conducted at five public secondary schools in El-Beheira governorate, Egypt. A total of 500 students were selected through a multistage sampling technique, yielding a response rate of 96%. The instruments used for data collection were the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. RESULTS: The findings revealed that 27.4% and 32.0% of respondents reported high levels of victimization and cyberaggression, respectively. Furthermore, 72.2%, 44%, and 52.6% of students exhibited severe to extremely severe levels of anxiety, stress, and depression, respectively. The study also found that cyberbullying and family monthly income accounted for 61.6% of the variance in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (adjusted R2 = .614). CONCLUSION: The study concludes that cyberbullying is a prevalent issue among adolescents in Egypt, with a majority of students experiencing moderate to high levels of cybervictimization and aggression. This leads to varying degrees of anxiety, stress, and depression. The study also established a significant relationship between cyberbullying and mental health issues among adolescents. Moreover, both cyberbullying and family monthly income were found to significantly influence mental health, with higher levels of cyberbullying and lower income associated with increased stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No Patient or Public Contribution. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: It is important for nurses working with adolescents to have an understanding of how common cyberbullying is and how it can affect mental health. They should receive training to be able to recognize signs of cyberbullying and mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Nurses can teach adolescents, parents, and school staff about its dangers and ways to prevent cyberbullying. This may involve educating adolescents on safe internet practices, promoting open communication about online experiences, and encouraging positive online behaviour. Lastly, considering the strong connection between income and mental health, nurses should also take into account the socioeconomic status of adolescents when assessing their mental health needs and planning care. They should work to secure resources and support for low-income families to help alleviate the impact of financial stress on mental health. Additionally, further research is needed to address other covariates that could impact cyberbullying, such as addictive personality traits, impulsive seeking behaviours, and parenting styles.

The Role of Parental Mediation and Age in the Associations between Cyberbullying Victimization and Bystanding and Children's and Adolescents' Depression.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this research was to assess age differences in the associations between cyberbullying victimization and bystanding and depression among 234 elementary school students (4th and 5th graders; 51% female), 363 middle school students (6th to 8th grades; 53% female), and 341 high school students (9th to 12th grades; 51% female) as well as the moderating effect of parental mediation in these relationships. METHODS: Participants completed self-report questionnaires on their cyberbullying victimization and bystanding, as well as depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The findings revealed that high levels of instructive mediation buffered against depression associated with cyberbullying victimization and bystanding across all age groups, with the strongest effects found for middle school students. Lower levels of instructive mediation and higher levels of restrictive mediation increased the positive relationships between cyberbullying victimization and bystanding and depression. Co-viewing mediation did not moderate any of the associations. CONCLUSIONS: Parental mediation of technology use has the potential to alleviate the negative consequences associated with cyberbullying victimization and bystanding. The findings highlight the importance of tailoring prevention and intervention strategies to specific age groups and to parents.

Factors Predicting In-School and Electronic Bullying among High School Students in the United States: An Analysis of the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.

BACKGROUND: Bullying is a global public health problem with severe adverse effects on behavioral health. Understanding the predictors of victimization by bullying is essential for public policy initiatives to respond to the problem effectively. In addition to traditional in-person bullying, electronic bullying has become more prevalent due to increasing social interaction and identity formation in virtual communities. This study aims to determine the predictors of in-school and electronic bullying. METHODS: We employed multivariable logistic regression to analyze a nationally representative sample of 17,232 high school students in the United States, the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System national component. The survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, from September through December 2021. The factors examined included sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, race), appearance (obesity), physically active lifestyles (being physically active, spending a long time on digital games), and risk-taking behavior (using marijuana). RESULTS: Our results indicated that sociodemographic characteristics were strong predictors of being bullied in school and electronically. Being obese is more likely to result in bullying in school (AOR = 1.32, p = 0.003) and electronically (AOR = 1.30, p = 0.004). Adolescent students showing marijuana use had higher odds of being bullied in school (AOR = 2.15, p < 0.001) and electronically (AOR = 1.81, p < 0.001). While spending a long time on digital devices raises the risk of being electronically bullied (AOR = 1.25, p = 0.014), being physically active is not associated with being bullied. Neither of the two lifestyle factors was associated with in-school bullying. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions addressing violence among adolescents can benefit from empirical evidence of risk factors for bullying victimization in high school.