The Buffering Effect of Parental Mediation in the Relationship between Adolescents' Cyberbullying Victimisation and Adjustment Difficulties

Michelle F. Wright

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

As cyberbullying research advances, many researchers have focused on identifying factors that might reduce the negative consequences associated with cyberbullying victimisation. One prominent factor receiving attention is the role of parental mediation in digital technology use, and how such mediation reduces the risk of cybervictimisation. Parents utilise different mediation strategies (i.e. restrictive, co-viewing, instructive), which could potentially contribute to differential patterns in the relationships between cyberbullying victimisation and the associated psychosocial adjustment difficulties (i.e. depression, loneliness, anxiety). The present study investigated this proposal among 568 US (53% female) adolescents in the eighth grade (age ranging from 13–15 years), utilising a longitudinal design. Cyberbullying victimisation was related positively to restrictive mediation and Time 2 depression, anxiety and loneliness, while such associations were negative for co-viewing mediation and instructive mediation. High levels of co-viewing mediation and instructive mediation made the relationship of cyberbullying victimisation to Time 2 (1 year later) depression more negative. The results of this study are discussed in terms of the supportive role of parents in adolescents' digital technology use.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)345-358
Number of pages14
JournalChild Abuse Review
Volume25
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Law

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Buffering Effect of Parental Mediation in the Relationship between Adolescents' Cyberbullying Victimisation and Adjustment Difficulties'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this