Internet addiction mediates the association between cyber victimization and psychological and physical symptoms：moderation by physical exercise

Abstract

Background: The potential mechanisms underlying cyber victimization and the resulting psychological and physical symptoms remain unclear. Thus, the present study investigated whether Internet addiction mediates the association between peer victimization (e.g., cyberbullying) and psychological and physical symptoms. Furthermore, it was assessed whether physical exercise moderates the hypothetical mediation.Methods: 1,854 students from 11 middle and high schools in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, were sampled for this study. Psychological and physical symptoms were assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF, while Internet addiction was evaluated using the Internet addiction test by Young. Cyber victimization was measured using a single question. In addition, this study examined whether Internet addiction mediated the association between cyber victimization and both psychological and physical symptoms. Additional work was conducted to test if physical exercise played a moderating role in the mediation hypothesized above. Mediation and moderation were analyzed using PROCESS macro for SPSS.Results: Regression analysis showed that both cyber victimization (β = -0.102, p < 0.05) and Internet addiction (β = -0.278, p < 0.05) significantly predicted psychological and physical symptoms and demographic variables were controlled. Further mediation analysis suggested that Internet addiction mediated the relationship between cyber victimization and psychological and physical symptoms. The 95% confidence interval of the direct effect was (-4.283, -1.696) and the indirect effect (­–1.904, -0.820), respectively, excluding zero. Finally, moderation analysis indicated that physical exercise moderated the relationship between Internet addiction and psychological and physical symptoms (p = 0.047).Conclusions: Internet addiction plays a mediating role in the association between cyber victimization and both psychological and physical symptoms, Thus, addressing Internet addiction among cyberbullying victims is worthwhile. Furthermore, physical exercise alleviates negative impacts on health and should thus be promoted.

Cybervictimization, Depression, and Adolescent Internet Addiction: The Moderating Effect of Prosocial Peer Affiliation

“…Compared with traditional victimization, cybervictimization involves more extreme violations of personal privacy, coupled with the perpetrators ability to remain anonymous as well as to harass others without being constrained by time and place ( Kowalski et al, 2018 ), which may lead to more psychological and behavioral problems for the victim ( Sourander et al, 2010 ). Some empirical evidence has supported the view that cybervictimization has a high correlation with adolescents’ IA ( Gamez-Guadix et al, 2013 ; Chang et al, 2015 ; Lin et al, 2020 ). For example, using a longitudinal study, Gamez-Guadix et al (2013) found that cybervictimization significantly predicted problematic internet use 6 months later among adolescents.…”

Why did You do that to Me?: a Systematic Review of Cyberbullying Impact on Mental Health and Suicide Among Adolescents

“…Internet addiction has been reported to be almost 47.7% in a study by Lin et al (2020). It is significantly related to social isolation, depressive disorder and other adverse health consequences which worsen the condition of victims of cyberbullying.…”

“…Internet addiction has a bidirectional association with cyberbullying and risky behavior such as chatting with strangers, posting personal information and pictures, etc. (Lin et al, 2020). Internet addiction is the uncontrollable, excessive and compulsive use of the internet.…”

Aile İletişim Kalıpları ve Akran İlişkilerinin Siber Mağduriyet ve Zorbalık Üzerindeki Etkisi: İnternet Bağımlılığının Aracı Etkisi

“…Örneğin internet bağımlılığının aracı etkisi ile siber mağduriyet ve fiziksel-psikolojik semptomların ilişkisinin incelendiği bir çalışmada aracılık etkisinin anlamlı düzeyde olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca aynı çalışmada egzersizin sağlık sonuçları üzerinde olumlu yönde dönüştürücü etkisi olduğu da bildirilmiştir (31). Yatay ve dikey bireyciliğin internet bağımlılığı üzerinden siber zorbalığa olan etkisinin incelendiği bir diğer çalışmada ise dikey bireyciliğin internet bağımlılığı üzerinden siber zorbalık üzerinde kısmi aracı etkiye sahip olduğu gösterilmiştir (32).…”

“…Bu bağlamda ergenlerin siber mağduriyet ve zorbalığa götüren yolda internet kullanımına olan bağımlılık aracılık etmektedir. İnternet bağımlılığı diğer çalışlardaki gibi aracılık etkisi yoluyla sonuçlar üzerinde etki göstermektedir(31,32).Aile iletişimi ve akran ilişkilerinin siber mağduriyet yaşamada ve siber zorba olmada etkili olduğu görülmektedir. Aynı zamanda internet bağımlılığını da etkilemektedir.…”