PLoS One. 2024 Sep 9;19(9):e0309959. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309959. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite the recognition of the impact of childhood psychological abuse, self-efficacy, and psychological resilience on cyberbullying, there is still a gap in understanding the specific mechanisms through which childhood psychological abuse impacts cyberbullying via self-efficacy and psychological resilience.

METHODS: Based on the Social Cognitive Theory, this study aims to investigate the link between childhood psychological abuse and cyberbullying in adolescents, mediated by the sequential roles of self-efficacy and psychological resilience. The sample consisted of 891 students (M = 15.40, SD = 1.698) selected from four public secondary schools in Jiangsu Province, Eastern China. All the participants filled in the structured self-report questionnaires on childhood psychological abuse, self-efficacy, psychological resilience, and cyberbullying. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 and structural equation modeling (SEM) in AMOS 24.0.

RESULTS: The findings of this study are as follows: (1) Childhood psychological abuse is positively associated with adolescent cyberbullying; (2) Self-efficacy plays a mediating role between childhood psychological abuse and adolescent cyberbullying; (3) Psychological resilience plays a mediating role between childhood psychological abuse and adolescent cyberbullying; (4) Self-efficacy and psychological resilience play a chain mediation role between childhood psychological abuse and adolescent cyberbullying.

CONCLUSION: This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms linking childhood psychological abuse to adolescent cyberbullying, shedding light on potential pathways for targeted interventions and support programs to promote the well-being of adolescents in the face of early adversity.

PMID:39250436 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0309959