Effects of Cyberbullying and Coping Strategies on Depression

Abstract

Background: Cyberbullying is associated with depression in adolescents. Coping strategies may serve to buffer against cyberbullying’s effect on depression. Studies on cyberbullying’s effects on depression and effects of respective coping in Thai adolescents are scarce. Objectives: To elucidate the effect of cyberbullying on depression in a sample of Thai urban secondary school students, and the effect of coping strategies on depression in cyberbullied subgroup. Materials and Methods: Stratified random sampling was performed. A total of 895 students completed the questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were measured using Patient Health Questionnaire-Adolescent, Thai version (PHQ-A), at the 0th baseline and 6th month outcome follow-up. Cyberbullying victimization was measured with items from Cyber-Aggression perpetration and victimization scale, Thai version. Potential confounders and coping strategies endorsement were collected. Statistical analyses of effects on 6th month depressive symptoms were carried out with generalized linear models. Results: From generalized linear model adjusted for age, gender, academic major, parental education level, perceived relationship difficulties, perceived learning difficulties, perceived social support, and baseline depressive symptoms, cyberbullying victimization predicted higher depressive symptoms at 6th month. From the model, having cyberbullying-victimization score of 1 SD above the mean predicted an increase in depression severity by one level. In cyberbullied participants, coping by consulting adults predicted lower depressive symptoms at 6th month, while coping by self-talk predicted higher depressive symptoms at 6th month. Other strategies failed to predict depressive symptoms at 6th month. Clinical implications are discussed. Conclusion: In the present study sample, cyberbullying victimization predicted higher depressive symptoms. Coping by consulting adults predicted lower depressive symptoms, while self-talking predicted higher depressive symptoms. More studies in Thai context are needed. Keywords: Cyberbullying; Depressive symptom; Adaptation, psychological; Adolescent; Thai