Cross-national study links cyberbullying with poorer adolescent well-being

Researchers analyzed 2017/2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey data from 183,928 adolescents across 42 countries. Multilevel models examined associations between cyberbullying victimization, perceived teacher and peer support, and life satisfaction, psychological symptoms, and somatic symptoms, accounting for clustering across countries and schools. The study was a secondary analysis of survey data; formal cross-national measurement invariance was not tested.

Cyberbullying victimization was associated with lower life satisfaction and higher psychological and somatic symptoms. Adolescents reporting greater teacher and peer support tended to have more favorable outcomes. Country-average teacher and peer support did not significantly moderate the associations between cyberbullying and outcomes. Some individual-level support interactions were significant, but they were not consistent with a buffering effect.

The findings identify perceived interpersonal support as a correlate of adolescent well-being, not evidence that support prevents or reduces harm from cyberbullying. The observational analysis cannot establish causality, and the authors note the absence of formal measurement-invariance testing across countries. The study received no specific grant funding, and the authors declared no competing interests.