Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T18:28:07.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Social networking sites and mental health problems in adolescents: The mediating role of cyberbullying victimization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 October 2015

H. Sampasa-Kanyinga  and
H.A. Hamilton
H. Sampasa-Kanyinga*
Affiliation:
Ottawa Public Health, 100, Constellation Crescent, K2G 6J8Ottawa, Canada
H.A. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33, Russell St., Toronto, Canada Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada,
*
⁎Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 3580 6744; fax: +61 3580 9601. E-mail address:[email protected] (H. Sampasa-Kanyinga).
Get access

Abstract

Background

Previous research has suggested an association between the use of social networking sites (SNSs) and mental health problems such as psychological distress, suicidal ideation and attempts in adolescents. However, little is known about the factors that might mediate these relationships. The present study examined the link between the use of social networking sites and psychological distress, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, and tested the mediating role of cyberbullying victimization on these associations in adolescents.

Methods

The sample consisted of a group of 11-to-20-year-old individuals (n = 5126, 48% females; mean ± SD age: 15.2 ± 1.9 years) who completed the mental health portion of the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) in 2013. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to test the mediation models.

Results

After adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, subjective socioeconomic status (SES), and parental education, use of SNSs was associated with psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval = 2.03, 1.22–3.37), suicidal ideation (3.44, 1.54–7.66) and attempts (5.10, 1.45–17.88). Cyberbullying victimization was found to fully mediate the relationships between the use of SNSs with psychological distress and attempts; whereas, it partially mediated the link between the use of SNSs and suicidal ideation.

Conclusion

Findings provide supporting evidence that addressing cyberbullying victimization and the use of SNSs among adolescents may help reduce the risk of mental health problems.

Keywords

SuicideViolenceAdolescent psychiatryEpidemiology
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 30 , Issue 8 , November 2015 , pp. 1021 - 1027
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baron, R.M.Kenny, D.A.. The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. J Person Soc Psychol 1986;51(6):1173–1182. [PubMed PMID: 3806354].CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berne, S.Frisén, A.Schultze-Krumbholz, A.Scheithauer, H.Naruskov, K.Luik, P., et al.Cyberbullying assessment instruments: a systematic review. Aggression Violent Behav 2013;18(2):320–334. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2012.11.022.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boak, A.Hamilton, H.A.Adlaf, E.M.Mann, R.E.Drug use among Ontario students: 1977–2013. Detailed OSDUHS findings (CAMH Research Document Series No. 36). Toronto, ON; 2013.Google Scholar
Boak, A.Hamilton, H.A.Adlaf, E.M.Beitchman, J.H.Wolfe, D.Mann, R.E.The mental health and well-being of Ontario students, 1991–2013. Detailed OSDUHS findings (CAMH Research Document Series No. 38). Toronto, ON; 2014.Google Scholar
Brandtzæg, P.B.Staksrud, E.Hagen, I.Wold, T.. Norwegian children's experiences of cyberbullying when using different technological platforms. J Child Media 2009;3:16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bridge, J.A.Goldstein, T.R.Brent, D.A.. Adolescent suicide and suicidal behavior. J Child Psychol Psychiatry Allied Discip 2006;47(3–4):372–394. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01615.x [PubMed PMID: 16492264]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Canada, S.Census 2006-2B (Long Form). Ottawa; 2006.Google Scholar
Cash, S.J.Bridge, J.A.. Epidemiology of youth suicide and suicidal behavior. Curr Opin Pediatr 2009;21(5):613–619. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0b013e32833063e1 [PubMed PMID: 19644372; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2885157]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chan, S.M.Fung, T.C.T.. Reliability and validity of K10 and K6 in screening depressive symptoms in Hong Kong adolescents. Vulnerable Child Youth Stud 2014;9(1):10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Courser, M.W.Shamblen, S.R.Lavrakas, P.J.Collins, D.Ditterline, P.. The impact of active consent procedures on nonresponse and nonresponse error in youth survey data: evidence from a new experiment. Eval Rev 2009;33(4):370–395. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0193841X09337228[PubMed PMID: 19506295; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2705468]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cowie, H.. Cyberbullying and its impact on young people's emotional health and well-being. Psychiatrist 2013;37:3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/pb.bp.112.040840.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Craig, W.M.Pepler, D.J.. Identifying and targeting risk for involvement in bullying and victimization. Can J Psychiatry 2003;48(9):577–582. [PubMed PMID: 14631877].CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dredge, R.Gleeson, J.Garcia, X.D.L.P.. Presentation on Facebook and risk of cyberbullying victimisation. Comput Hum Behav 40 2014 6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drouin, M.Ross, J.Tobin, E.. Sexting: a new, digital vehicle for intimate partner aggression?. Comput Hum Behav 2015;50:197–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellison, N.B.Steinfield, C.Lampe, C.. The benefits of Facebook “friends”: social capital and college students’ use of online social networking sites. J Comput Media Commun 2007;12:25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Erdur-Baker, Ö.. Cyberbullying and its correlation to traditional bullying, gender and frequent and risky usage of Internet-mediated communication tools. N Media Soc 2010;12:16.Google Scholar
Gamez-Guadix, M.Orue, I.Smith, P.K.Calvete, E.. Longitudinal and reciprocal relations of cyberbullying with depression, substance use, and problematic Internet use among adolescents. J Adolesc Health 2013;53(4):446–452. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.03.030.[PubMed PMID: 23721758]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goodman, E.Adler, N.E.Kawachi, I.Frazier, A.L.Huang, B.Colditz, G.A.. Adolescents’ perceptions of social status: development and evaluation of a new indicator. Pediatrics 2001;108(2):E31[PubMed PMID: 11483841]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gould, M.S.Greenberg, T.Velting, D.M.Shaffer, D.. Youth suicide risk and preventive interventions: a review of the past 10 years. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2003;42(4):386–405. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.CHI.0000046821.95464.CF[PubMed PMID: 12649626]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guitton, M.J.The importance of studying the dark side of social networks. Comput Hum Behav 2014;(31):355.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harwood, J.Dooley, J.J.Scott, A.J.Joiner, R.. Constantly connected – the effects of smart-devices on mental health. Comput Hum Behav 2014;34:267–272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hinduja, S.Patchin, J.W.. Bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide. Arch Suicide Res 2010;14(3):206–221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2010.494133[PubMed PMID: 20658375]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huang, J.P.Xia, W.Sun, C.H.Zhang, H.Y.Wu, L.J.. Psychological distress and its correlates in Chinese adolescents. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2009;43(7):674–680. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00048670902970817[quiz 81, PubMed PMID: 19530025]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jelenchick, L.A.Eickhoff, J.C.Moreno, M.A.. “Facebook depression?” Social networking site use and depression in older adolescents. J Adolesct Health 2013;52(1):128–130. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.05.008.[PubMed PMID: 23260846]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kessler, R.C.Andrews, G.Colpe, L.J.Hiripi, E.Mroczek, D.K.Normand, S.L., et al.Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychol Med 2002;32(6):959–976. [PubMed PMID: 12214795].CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kessler, R.C.Barker, P.R.Colpe, L.J.Epstein, J.F.Gfroerer, J.C.Hiripi, E., et al.Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2003;60(2):184–189. [PubMed PMID: 12578436].CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kessler, R.C.Berglund, P.Demler, O.Jin, R.Merikangas, K.R.Walters, E.E.. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2005;62(6):593–602. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.593[PubMed PMID: 15939837]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kim, J.Lee, J.E.. The Facebook paths to happiness: effects of the number of Facebook friends and self-presentation on subjective well-being. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Networking 2011;14(6):359–364. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2010.0374[PubMed PMID: 21117983]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kuss, D.J.Griffiths, M.D.. Online social networking and addiction--a review of the psychological literature. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2011;8(9):3528–3552. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8093528[PubMed PMID: 22016701; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3194102]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kutcher, S.P.Szumilas, M.. Youth suicide prevention. Can Med Assoc J 2008;178(3):282–285. http://dx.doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.071315[PubMed PMID: 18227445; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2211358]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lortie, C.L.Guitton, M.J.. Internet addiction assessment tools: dimensional structure and methodological status. Addiction 2013;108(7):1207–1216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/add.12202 [PubMed PMID: 23651255]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
May, A.Klonsky, E.D.. Validity of suicidality items from the youth risk behavior survey in a high school sample. Assessment 2011;18(3):379–381. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1073191110374285[PubMed PMID: 20622196]CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Menesini, E.Nocentini, A.. Cyberbullying definition and measurement: some critical considerations. J Psychol 2009;217(4):2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0044-3409.217.4.230.Google Scholar
Messias, E.Kindrick, K.Castro, J.. School bullying, cyberbullying, or both: correlates of teen suicidality in the 2011 CDC youth risk behavior survey. Compr Psychiatry 2014;55(5):1063–1068. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.02.005.[PubMed PMID: 24768228; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4136518]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mitchell, K.J.Finkelhor, D.Jones, L.M.Wolak, J.. Prevalence and characteristics of youth sexting: a national study. Pediatrics 2012;129(1):13–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-1730[PubMed PMID: 22144706]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pantic, I.. Social networking and depression: an emerging issue in behavioral physiology and psychiatric research. J Adolesc Health 2014;54(6):745–746. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.10.199.[PubMed PMID: 24361236]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pantic, I.. Online social networking and mental health. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Networking 2014;17(10):652–657. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0070 [PubMed PMID: 25192305; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4183915]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pantic, I.Damjanovic, A.Todorovic, J.Topalovic, D.Bojovic-Jovic, D.Ristic, S., et al.Association between online social networking and depression in high school students: behavioral physiology viewpoint. Psychiatria Danubina 2012;24(1):90–93. [PubMed PMID: 22447092].Google ScholarPubMed
Patel, V.Flisher, A.J.Hetrick, S.McGorry, P.. Mental health of young people: a global public-health challenge. Lancet 2007;369(9569):1302–1313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60368-7.[PubMed PMID: 17434406]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sampasa-Kanyinga, H.Lewis, R.F.. Frequent use of social networking sites is associated with poor psychological functioning among children and adolescents. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Networking 2015;18(7):380–385. 10.1089/cyber.2015.0055 [PubMed PMID: 26167836]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sampasa-Kanyinga, H.Roumeliotis, P.Xu, H.. Associations between cyberbullying and school bullying victimization and suicidal ideation, plans and attempts among Canadian schoolchildren. PloS One 2014;9(7):e102145http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0102145 [PubMed PMID: 25076490; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC411612]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schneider, S.K.O’Donnell, L.Stueve, A.Coulter, R.W.. Cyberbullying, school bullying, and psychological distress: a regional census of high school students. Am J Public Health 2012;102(1):171–177. http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300308 [PubMed PMID: 22095343; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3490574]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shaffer, D.A.Greenberg, T.Suicide and suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. In: Shaffer, D.Waslick, B.D.The many faces of depression in children and adolescents Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2002.Google Scholar
Shaw, L.H.Gant, L.M.. In defense of the Internet: the relationship between Internet communication and depression, loneliness, self-esteem, and perceived social support. Cyberpsychol Behav 2002;5(2):157–171. [PubMed PMID: 12025883].CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Simoncic, T.E.Kuhlman, K.R.Vargas, I.Houchins, S.Lopez-Duran, N.L.. Facebook use and depressive symptomatology: Investigating the role of neuroticism and extraversion in youth. Comput Hum Behav 2014;40:1–5. [PubMed PMID: 25861155; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4386284].CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sobel, M.E.. Asymptotic confidence intervals for indirect effects in structural equation models. Sociol Methodol 1982;13:22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spraggins, A.Problematic use of online social networking sites for college students: prevalence, predictors, and association with well-being. University of Florida; 2009.Google Scholar
Tarafdar, M.Gupta, A.Turel, O.. The dark side of information technology use. Inf Syst J 2013;23(3):269–275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tokunaga, R.S.. Following you home from school: a critical review and synthesis of research on cyberbullying victimization. Comput Hum Behav 2010;26(3):10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turel, O.Serenko, A.. The benefits and dangers of enjoyment with social networking websites. Eur J Inf Syst 2012;21(5):512–528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Valkenburg, P.M.Peter, J.Schouten, A.P.. Friend networking sites and their relationship to adolescents’ well-being and social self-esteem. Cyberpsychol Behav 2006;9(5):584–590. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.584 [PubMed PMID: 17034326]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Geel, M.Vedder, P.Tanilon, J.. Relationship between peer victimization, cyberbullying, and suicide in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr 2014;168(5):435–442. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4143 [PubMed PMID: 24615300]CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
World Health Organization (WHO). Preventing suicide: a global imperative. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2014.Google Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.