Doumas Diana M, Midgett Aida
Institute for the Study of Behavioral Health and Addiction, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA.
Department of Counselor Education, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA.
Psychol Sch. 2023 Apr;60(4):1149-1163. doi: 10.1002/pits.22823. Epub 2022 Oct 31.
Suicide is a significant public health concern school-aged youth. Although a growing body of literature has documented the association between cyberbullying and suicidal ideation, and the mediating effect of internalizing symptoms, there is no research to date examining the impact of witnessing cyberbullying and suicidal ideation. To address this gap, we conducted a cross-sectional study with middle school students ( = 130). Students completed questionnaires assessing witnessing cyberbullying, witnessing school bullying, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. We used structural equation modeling to test a mediational model in which we hypothesized internalizing symptoms would mediate the unique relationship between witnessing cyberbullying and suicidal ideation (i.e., controlling for witnessing school bullying). Results supported the mediational model, indicating the frequency of witnessing cyberbullying was positively related to internalizing symptoms, which in turn were related to higher levels of suicidal ideation. Findings suggest the importance of providing programs to support middle school students who witness cyberbullying to reduce the mental health risks (i.e., internalizing symptoms and suicidal ideation) associated with being a cyberbullying bystander.
自杀是学龄青少年一个重大的公共卫生问题。尽管越来越多的文献记录了网络欺凌与自杀意念之间的关联以及内化症状的中介作用，但迄今为止尚无研究考察目睹网络欺凌与自杀意念的影响。为填补这一空白，我们对中学生（n = 130）进行了一项横断面研究。学生们完成了评估目睹网络欺凌、目睹校园欺凌、抑郁、焦虑和自杀意念的问卷。我们使用结构方程模型来检验一个中介模型，在该模型中我们假设内化症状会中介目睹网络欺凌与自杀意念之间的独特关系（即控制目睹校园欺凌）。结果支持了中介模型，表明目睹网络欺凌的频率与内化症状呈正相关，而内化症状又与更高水平的自杀意念相关。研究结果表明，提供相关项目以支持目睹网络欺凌的中学生从而降低与成为网络欺凌旁观者相关的心理健康风险（即内化症状和自杀意念）具有重要意义。
