Factors associated with cyberbullying and depression in cybervictimized adolescents and the role of internet gaming disorder

This study investigates the relationships between cybervictimization, cyberbullying, Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), depression, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms in adolescents with a history of cybervictimization. A clinical sample of 89 adolescents aged 12–17 years was assessed using standardized diagnostic interviews and self-report scales. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that depression severity was independently associated with cybervictimization, age, and IGD severity. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms were significantly associated with cyberbullying perpetration, whereas cybervictimization was only related to depression severity. Additionally, moderation analyses showed that IGD did not significantly moderate the relationship between cybervictimization and depression or between ODD symptoms and cyberbullying. These findings highlight the complex interplay between psychiatric symptoms and problematic online behaviors. Our results emphasize the importance of routine screening for cyberbullying experiences in adolescents with depression or ADHD. Further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causal pathways and inform targeted interventions aimed at mitigating the negative mental health outcomes associated with cyberbullying and IGD.