Cybervictimization and Depression among Adolescents: Coping Strategies as Mediators

Poh Chua Siah, Xiang Yi Tee, Joanna Tjin Ai Tan, Chee Seng Tan, Komathi Lokithasan, Sew Kim Low and Chin Choo Yap
Additional contact information
Poh Chua Siah: Department of Psychology and Counseling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar Campus, Kampar 31900, Perak, Malaysia
Xiang Yi Tee: Department of Psychology and Counseling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar Campus, Kampar 31900, Perak, Malaysia
Joanna Tjin Ai Tan: Department of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar Campus, Kampar 31900, Perak, Malaysia
Chee Seng Tan: Department of Psychology and Counseling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar Campus, Kampar 31900, Perak, Malaysia
Komathi Lokithasan: Department of Psychology and Counseling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar Campus, Kampar 31900, Perak, Malaysia
Sew Kim Low: Department of Psychology and Counseling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar Campus, Kampar 31900, Perak, Malaysia
Chin Choo Yap: Department of Psychology, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: Studies have shown the relationships among cybervictimization, coping strategies, and depression, but no study has examined the mechanism that links the three variables. Accordingly, this study used the transactional model of stress and coping theory as a conceptual framework and proposed that coping strategies are mediators for the effects of cybervictimization on depression. A total of 387 adolescents were recruited by using the purposive sampling method. The results showed that cybervictimization is not directly associated with depression. All the coping strategies are found to be associated with cybervictimization, but only the avoidant coping strategy is the statistical mediator for the effects of cybervictimization on depression. This study’s findings suggest that the transactional model of stress and coping theory may provide a framework in the area of cyberbullying and recommend more actions to be taken in order to reduce the use of avoidance coping strategies among victims of cyberbullying.

Keywords: cybervictimization; coping strategies; depression; adolescents; transactional model of stress and coping theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/3903/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/3903/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:3903-:d:779201

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().