The Moderating Role of Parenting Dimensions in the Association between Traditional or Cyberbullying Victimization and Mental Health among Adolescents of Different Sexual Orientation

Ann DeSmet, Maddalena Rodelli, Michel Walrave, Gwendolyn Portzky, Eva Dumon and Bart Soenens
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Ann DeSmet: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Maddalena Rodelli: Department of Philosophy, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Sociology, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
Michel Walrave: Department of Communication Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Antwerp University, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Gwendolyn Portzky: Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention (VLESP), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Eva Dumon: Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention (VLESP), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Bart Soenens: Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Cyberbullying victimization is associated with mental health problems and reported to occur more in nonheterosexual orientation youth (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ)) than among heterosexual youth. Parental support may protect against mental health problems after being victimized, but nonsupportive parental influences may also exacerbate harm. This study investigated whether parenting dimensions (autonomy support, psychological control) moderated the associations between bullying victimization and mental health problems among heterosexual and LGBQ adolescents. An anonymous survey was completed by 1037 adolescents (M age = 15.2 ± 1.9, 50% female). Regression analyses examined associations between victimization, sexual orientation, and mental health problems, and investigated the moderating role of parenting. Both forms of victimization were associated with higher mental health problems. LGBQ youth experienced more depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation than heterosexual youth. Lower levels of parental psychological control and higher levels of autonomy support were related to having fewer mental health problems. However, perceived autonomy support appeared less protective when adolescents experienced more frequent victimization. Moreover, parental psychological control was related to heightened risk for suicidal plans specifically among LGBQ youth and also exacerbated the association between cyberbullying victimization and stress among LGBQ youth. These findings underscore the need to address parenting in whole-school antibullying and mental health promotion programs.

Keywords: sexual orientation; cyberbullying; mental health; suicide; parenting; autonomy support; psychological control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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