Structural Modeling of Cyberbullying and Risk Behaviors in Adolescents through the Mediation of Anger Rumination

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.

2 Associate Professor in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescence is a unique developmental stage, during which many mental health challenges and psychological disorders emerge. This study aimed to examine the structural relationships between cyberbullying and risky behaviors in adolescents, with the mediating role of anger rumination.

Methods: The design of this study is quantitative in nature. The research method is descriptive-correlational and was conducted through structural equation modeling. The population consisted of middle and high school students in Bushehr city during January to March in the academic year 2024-2025 .Participants were selected through a multistage cluster sampling method. From the list of middle and high schools in District 1, four schools were chosen, and two classes were randomly selected from each school. The research instruments included the Cyber-Bullying/Victimization Experiences Questionnaire (CBVEQ), Risky, Impulsive and Self-Destructive Behavior Questionnaire (RISQ), and Anger Rumination Scale (ARS). Descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used in SPSS-27 and SmartPLS 4 software to analyze the data.

Results: The results indicated that cyberbullying had a significant direct effect on anger rumination (0/36) and a significant direct effect on risk behaviors (0/44). Anger rumination had a significant positive direct effect on risk behaviors (0/47). Furthermore, the indirect effect of cyberbullying on risky behaviors through the mediating variable of anger rumination was found to be significant (0/17).

Conclusion: The research model exhibits a good fit. These results underscore the importance of teaching self-regulation and emotional management skills to adolescents who engage in cyberbullying. Training in these skills can enhance the mental health of adolescents.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. منابع

    1. Adolescent health. [Homepage on the Internet]. World Health Organization. 2024. https://www.who.int/health-topics/adolescent-health#tab=tab_1
    2. Tabrizi JS, Doshmangir L, Khoshmaram N, Shakibazadeh E, Abdolahi HM, Khabiri R. Key factors affecting health promoting behaviors among adolescents: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024;24(1):58. https://Doi:10.1186/s12913-023-10510-x
    3. Mohamadi SY, Sotoodeh Asl N, Jahan F, Moazedian A. A causal model on adolescents' high-risk behaviors based on religious beliefs and self-compassion mediated by emotion regulation and social support. J Res Psychopathol. 2024;5(16):27-35. [Persian]‏ Doi:10.22098/jrp.2022.10741.1097
    4. Nezampoor R, Mashhadi A, Bigdeli I. Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Group Training on Aggression and Risky Behavior in Male Orphan Adolescents. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2018;10(2):59-70. [Persian] Doi:10.22075/jcp.2018.9868
    5. Garrido EF, Weiler LM, Taussig HN. Adverse childhood experiences and health-risk behaviors in vulnerable early adolescents. J Early Adolesc. 2018;38(5):661-80. https://Doi.org/10.1177/0272431616687671
    6. Khodabakhsh M, Jafari A, Banihasan M, Lachin M. Effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy on hostile attributes and risky behaviors in adolescents. J Fundam Ment Health. 2024;26(3):149-55. [Persian] https://Doi: 10.22038/JFMH.2024.68953.3032
    7. Petäjä UK, Terkamo-Moisio A, Karki S, Häggman-Laitila A. The prevalence of high-risk behavior among adolescents in aftercare services and transitioning from out-of-home care: a systematic review. Adolesc Res Rev. 2023;8(3):323-37.‏ https://Doi.org/10.1007/s40894-022-00198-1
    8. Mihić J, Skinner M, Novak M, Ferić M, Kranželić V. The importance of family and school protective factors in preventing the risk behaviors of youth. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3):1630. https://Doi:10.3390/ijerph19031630
    9. Ghorbanalizadeh M. Epidemiology of risk behaviors in adolescents and young people. In: Proceedings of the International Conference in Management and Industry; 2023. [Persian] https://civilica.com/doc/1770816
    10. Omisore B, Oyerinde I, Farinloye E, Odunuga O, Omisore A, Adewumi K, et al. Risk perception and prevalence of risky behaviours among in-school adolescents in Ijesa-Land, South Western Nigeria. Sierra Leone J Med. 2024;1(2):80-89. https:// Doi.org/10.69524/sljm.v1i2.109
    11. Bozzini AB, Bauer A, Maruyama J, Simões R, Matijasevich A. Factors associated with risk behaviors in adolescence: a systematic review. Braz J Psychiatry. 2020;43(2):210-221.
      https://Doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0835
    12. Thomas HJ, Connor JP, Scott JG. Integrating traditional bullying and cyberbullying: challenges of definition and measurement in adolescents—a review. Educ Psychol Rev. 2015;27(1):135–152. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1007/s10648-014-9261-7
    13. Zhu C, Huang S, Evans R, Zhang W. Cyberbullying among adolescents and children: a comprehensive review of the global situation, risk factors, and preventive measures. Front Public Health. 2021;9:634909. https://DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2021.634909
    14. Baldry AC, Farrington DP, Sorrentino A. “Am I at risk of cyberbullying”? A narrative review and conceptual framework for research on risk of cyberbullying and cybervictimization: The risk and needs assessment approach. Aggress Violent Behav. 2015;23:36–51. https://Doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2015.05.014
    15. Mantey DS, Yockey RA, Springer AE. Digital screen time and suicidality during high school: How important is cyberbullying? A mediation analysis using the youth risk behavioral surveillance survey, 2011–2019. Prev Med. 2023;166(18):107330.‏ https://DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107330
    16. Sorrentino A, Esposito A, Acunzo D, Santamato M, Aquino A. Onset risk factors for youth involvement in cyberbullying and cybervictimization: A longitudinal study. Front Psychol. 2023;13:1090047. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1090047
    17. Shariatpanahi G, Tahouri K, Asadabadi M, Moienafshar A, Nazari M, Sayarifard A. Cyberbullying and its contributing factors among Iranian adolescents. Int J High Risk Behav Addict. 2021;10(3):e112178. [Persian] https://doi.org/10.5812/ijhrba.112178
    18. Samadieh H, Haddad F, Masak T, Mohajerpour A. Psychosocial determinants of cyberbullying in early adulthood: The role of media literacy and online self-disclosure. J Psychol Dyn Mood Disord. 2024;1:1-15. [Persian] https://maherpub.com/pdmd
    19. Graham R, Wood Jr FR. Associations between cyberbullying victimization and deviant health risk behaviors. Soc Sci J. 2019;56(2):183-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2018.05.005
    20. Singh P, Singh A. Emotion regulation difficulties and health-risk behaviours in adolescents. Behav Change. 2023;40(2):86-102. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1017/bec.2022.5
    21. Arató N, Zsidó AN, Rivnyák A, Peley B, Labadi B. Risk and protective factors in cyberbullying: the role of family, social support and emotion regulation. Int J Bullying Prev. 2022;4(2):160-173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-021-00097-4
    22. Sukhodolsky DG, Golub A, Cromwell EN. Development and validation of the anger rumination scale. Pers Individ Dif. 2001;31(5):689-700. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/S0191-8869(00)00171-9
    23. Spyropoulou E, Giovazolias T. Investigating the multidimensionality and psychometric properties of the Children’s Anger Rumination Scale (CARS): A bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling framework. Assess. 2023;30(3):533-550. https://DOI: 10.1177/10731911211043569
    24. Ciobotaru D, Jones CJ, Cohen Kadosh R, Violante IR, Cropley M. “Too much of a burden”: Lived experiences of depressive rumination in early adulthood. J Couns Psychol. 2024;71(4):255–267. https://doi/10.1037/cou0000740
    25. Yoon L, Keenan KE, Hipwell AE, Forbes EE, Guyer AE. Hooked on a thought: Associations between rumination and neural responses to social rejection in adolescent girls. Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2023;64:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101320
    26. Ahmadi E, Hokmabadi M. Structural Relationships of Anger Rumination and Forgiveness with Subjective Well-being in Women Considering the Mediating Role of Shame and Guilt. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2024;16(1):39-51. [Persian] Doi:10.22075/jcp.2024.32879.2813
    27. 27. Lv R, Wang Y, Zhang C, Ma J. The role of anger rumination as a mediator in the relationship between driver moral disengagement and driving angry. Heliyon. 2024;10(8):1-20. https://DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29112
    28. Noroozi Y, Janjani P. Investigating the mediating role of difficulty in emotion regulation in the relationship between attachment styles and rumination in high-risk behaviors of adolescent girls. J Arak Uni Med Sci. 2023;26(3):41-46. ‏[Persian] https://DOI:10.61186/jams.26.3.41
    29. Abdolmohammadi K, Ghadirey F, Mohammadzadeh A. Predicting cyber aggression based on empathy, moral disengagement and anger rumination in adolescents. Soc Psychol Res. 2023;13(50):15-30. [Persian] https://doi:10.22034/spr.2023.386910.1820
    30. Eslami S, Kabini Moghadam S, Nasser F. High risk social behaviors in adolescent students of Guilan. Soc Welfare Quart. 2022;22(85):159-179. [Persian] http://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.17358191.1401.22.85.4.2
    31. Loehlin, J.C. (2004). Latent Variable Models: An Introduction to Factor, Path, and Structural Equation Analysis (4th ed.). Psychology Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781410609823
    32. 32. Kline RB. Principles and practice of structural equation modeling: Guilford publications; 2023. https://www.routledge.com/Principles-and-Practice-of-Structural-Equation-Modeling-Fifth-Edition/Kline/p/book/9781462551910?srsltid=AfmBOoqO7Z7uYLO7uAK156hdwfWcSpToyoqQKGWVunmNzB77q5CmbWhX
    33. Antoniadou N, Kokkinos C, Markos A. Development, construct validation and measurement invariance of the Greek cyber-bullying/victimization experiences questionnaire (CBVEQ-G). Comput Human Behav. 2016;65:380-390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.08.032
    34. Basharpoor S, Zardi B. Psychometric properties of Cyber-Bullying/Victimization Experiences Questionnaire (CBVEQ) in students. J School Psychol. 2019;8(1):43-57. [Persian] https://doi:10.22098/jsp.2019.795
    35. Hosseini Sfidvadjani M, Ghorban Jahromi R, Dortaj F, Hosseini SB. Negative emotions, fear of missing out, victim of cyberbullying: A structural equation modeling for adolescents. Soc Psychol Res. 2023;13(49):91-101. [Persian] https://doi:10.22034/spr.2023.375154.1799
    36. Sadeh N, Baskin-Sommers A. Risky, impulsive, and self-destructive behavior questionnaire (RISQ): A validation study. Assessment. 2017;24(8):1080-1094.‏ https://DOI:10.1177/1073191116640356
    37. Jebraeili H, Rezaee R, Davudizadeh S. Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Risky, Impulsive and Self-Destructive Behavior Questionnaire and affective triggers of risky behavior (Farsi version). Contemp Psychol. 2021;16(1):97-108. [Persian] http://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.20081243.1400.16.1.8.6
    38. 38. Besharat M, Mohammad Mehr R. Psychometric evaluation of Anger Rumination Scale. Adv Nurs Midwifery. 2009;18(65):36-43. [Persian] https://journals.sbmu.ac.ir/en-jnm/article/view/13389
    39. Jiang Q, Zhao F, Xie X, Wang X, Nie J, Lei L, et al. Difficulties in emotion regulation and cyberbullying among Chinese adolescents: A mediation model of loneliness and depression. J Interpers Violence. 2022;37(1-2):NP1105-NP1124. Doi:10.1177/0886260520917517
    40. Maor R, Riki T, Ariela G, Lilach BM, Meital J, Marques A, Yossi HF. Risk and resiliency factors associated with school bullying and cyberbullying among adolescents in Mediterranean countries. J School Violence. 2023;23(1):55-70. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2023.2266811

    41. Zsila Á, Urbán R, Griffiths MD, Demetrovics Z. Gender differences in the association between cyberbullying victimization and perpetration: The role of anger rumination and traditional bullying experiences. Int J Ment Health Addiction. 2019;17(5):1252-1267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-018-9893-9

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 21 March 2025
  • Revise Date: 05 July 2025
  • Accept Date: 08 July 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics