Peer victimisation and depressive symptoms: can specific coping strategies buffer the negative impact of cybervictimisation?
Open accessAbstract
This longitudinal study investigated whether cybervictimisation is an additional risk factor for depressive symptoms over and beyond traditional victimisation in adolescents. Furthermore, it explored whether certain coping strategies moderate the impact of cybervictimisation on depressive symptoms. A total of 765 Swiss seventh graders (mean age at time-point 1 (t1) = 13.18 years) reported on the frequency of traditional and cybervictimisation, and of depressive symptoms twice in six months. At time-point 2 (t2) students also completed a questionnaire on coping strategies in response to a hypothetical cyberbullying scenario. Analyses showed that both traditional and cybervictimisation were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Cybervictimisation also predicted increases in depressive symptoms over time. Regarding coping strategies, it was found that helpless reactions were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Moreover, support seeking from peers and family showed a significant buffering effect: cybervictims who recommended seeking close support showed lower levels of depressive symptoms at t2. In contrast, cybervictims recommending assertive coping strategies showed higher levels of depressive symptoms at t2.
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One longitudinal study in Switzerland found that cyberbullying contributed to significantly greater depression over time.
“one longitudinal study in Switzerland found that cyberbullying contributed to significantly greater depression over time (Machmutow, Perren, Sticca, & Alsaker, 2012)”
From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Machmutow, Perren, Sticca, & Alsaker, 2012
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- Authors
- Machmutow, K., Perren, S., Sticca, F., & Alsaker, F. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Zurich (CH)
- University of Bern (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Perren, Sonja
- Venue
- Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-08-23
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 3-4
- Pages
- 403-420
- ISSN
- 1363-2752 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-2692
- OpenAlex
- W2104076180
- Cited by
- 281
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 23.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion)
- Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern) (submittedVersion)
- Publikationsserver der PHTG (submittedVersion)
- KOPS (University of Konstanz) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- cyberbullying, depressive symptoms, adolescents, coping strategies, peer victimization, helplessness, support seeking, buffering effect, longitudinal development
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