Cyberbullying and mental health in adolescents: bidirectional approach

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Abstract
Cyberbullying is a public health problem with effects on the mental health of those involved, including the roles of victims, aggressors, and victims/aggressors. The study investigated the bidirectional relationship between cyberbullying roles and mental health indicators in adolescents (depression, self-esteem, psychological distress, self-harm, suicide attempts, and drug use). This is a cross-sectional study with multistage cluster sampling totaling 480 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years, in the 10th grade of public and private schools in two Brazilian capitals. The Revised Cyberbullying Inventory (RCBI) and mental health indicators were used, with logistic models adjusted for gender, family structure, age, color/race, religion, and social class. The results reveal that the roles of victim and aggressor/victim are more likely to lead to adverse outcomes in mental health. All mental health outcomes showed a significant association with cyberbullying roles, strongest for suicidal ideation: victim (OR=11.83; 95%CI 2.48-56.59; p=0.005) and victim/aggressor (OR=5.65; 95%CI 2.51-12.69; p<0.001). The study contributes to the reflection about associations of different roles in cyberbullying.
Funding Information
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (58943916.3.0000.5240)

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