Cybervictimization and non-suicidal self-injury among Chinese adolescents: The effect of depression and school connectedness

Association between childhood emotional abuse and non-suicidal self-injury among Guangxi adolescents in China: A moderated mediation model

BACKGROUND

Childhood Emotional Abuse (CEA) is a known risk factor for Non Suicidal Self-injury (NSSI), which could have devastating repercussions. This study aimed to establish whether Parent-Child Attachment (PCA) and depressive symptoms mediated the CEA-NSSI relationship, as well as whether school connectedness moderated both the direct and indirect relationships between CEA and NSSI.

METHODS

Between November and December 2022, 7447 Chinese adolescents in high schools were surveyed through multi-stage cluster random sampling. The participants completed self-reported questionnaires that assessed CEA, PCA, depressive symptoms, school connectedness, and NSSI. Relationships between these variables were examined through moderated mediation analysis using SPSS macro-PROCESS.

RESULTS

After controlling for sociodemographic variables, we found that CEA correlated positively with NSSI through two different pathways: the mediating role of depressive symptoms and the chain-mediating role of both PCA and depressive symptoms. Moreover, school connectedness could moderate the direct and indirect relationships between CEA and NSSI.

LIMITATIONS

The study's cross-sectional design does not allow for causal inferences.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, PCA, depressive symptoms, and school connectedness could affect the CEA-NSSI relationship.

Mediating role of alexithymia in relationship between cyberbullying and psychotic experiences in adolescents

BACKGROUND

Today, addressing issues related to the use of virtual space is of paramount importance due to its significant impact on mental well-being. This is especially crucial when the research community consists of teenagers who are cyber bullies or their victims who have higher vulnerability. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between cyberbullying and psychotic experiences in adolescents.

METHODS

The research method employed in this study was correlational, and the study population consisted of all male and female middle school students in Tehran during the 2022-2023 academic years. As for data collection, the Cyber-Bullying/Victimization Experiences questionnaire, Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences, and the Toronto Alexithymia scale were applied. A total of 602 samples were gathered by using multi-stage cluster sampling from Tehran in Iran. Four selection of the sample, the regions in Tehran were selected randomly according to the geographical directions of them and then some schools and classes were chosen randomly. Sample was included in the analysis after data entry into SPSS software and subsequent structural equation modeling using AMOS software.

RESULTS

According to the findings, cyberbullying (β = 0.11,p < 0.05) and cyber victimization(β = 0.41, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of psychotic experiences. Alexithymia partially mediated the relationship between cyberbullying and psychotic experiences with the mediation effect of 0.28 and cyber victimization and psychotic experiences with the mediation effect of 0.18.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the importance of identifying cyber victims or cyberbullies in order to prevent alexithymia and psychotic experiences in future, in order to prevent more serious problems and becoming psychotic.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The goals and conditions of this research were investigated and approved by the Ethics Committee of Alzahra University in Tehran (code: ALZAHRA.REC.1402.055) on 13th September 2023.

Cyberbullying and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in Adolescence: Exploring Moderators and Mediators through a Systematic Review

(1) Objective: This systematic review explores the intricate relationship between cyberbullying and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents, acknowledging the dynamic nature of these phenomena in the evolving landscape of technology and social norms. (2) Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched, and 14 studies were selected based on the eligibility criteria, focusing on participants aged 10 to 19, cyberbullying roles, and NSSI as the predictor and outcome variables, respectively. (3) Results: Internalizing symptoms, specifically depression and anxiety, emerged as the most prominent mediators. However, factors such as externalizing symptoms, stress, and negative emotional responses (emotion reactivity, negative emotions) were also identified to play a significant role in the relationship between cyberbullying and NSSI. On the other hand, protective factors against the negative impact of cyberbullying on NSSI risk, such as strong peer connections and school engagement, were identified. (4) Discussions: This review underscores the multidimensional nature of the cyberbullying-NSSI association, emphasizing the roles of potential risk factors such as internalizing and externalizing symptoms, stress, and negative emotional response. Internalizing symptoms played a central role as pathways between cyberbullying victimization and NSSI. Additionally, social factors, including peer connections and school engagement, were found to act as protective elements. (4) Conclusion: Continuous investigation is crucial in order to adapt interventions to the evolving technological and social landscape. The study advocates for targeted interventions that prioritize positive social connections to mitigate the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent well-being.

The relationship between major life events and non-suicidal self-injury among college students: the effect of rumination and body image

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) poses a growing risk to public health worldwide. While numerous studies have identified major life events as key risk factors for NSSI, the mechanisms by which emotional and cognitive problems mediate or moderate this relationship remain unclear. To enhance the understanding of this field, we will draw upon the cascade theory of self-injury and the benefits and barriers model, to examine the relationship between major life events and NSSI, as well as the effect of rumination and body image.

Methods

A sample of 2,717 college students (Mage = 19.81 years; SD = 1.09) participated in this study and anonymously completed the questionnaires. The moderated mediation model were conducted using Model 4 and Model 15 of the Process macro program in SPSS.

Results

The results showed that rumination mediated the positive relationship between major life events and NSSI. Furthermore, body image was found to moderate both the relationship between major life events and NSSI, as well as the relationship between rumination and NSSI.

Conclusion

The current findings suggest that rumination is an important mediator in the relationship between major life events and NSSI among college students. Teachers, parents, and researchers should recognize the important role of body image self-perceptions of college students and actively promote a healthy and accurate body image.

Understanding Comorbidity Between Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Depressive Symptoms in a Clinical Sample of Adolescents: A Network Analysis

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and depression often co-occur among adolescents with more severe clinical symptoms. This study examined the network structures of NSSI and depressive symptoms in adolescents.

Methods

Participants were recruited in the psychiatric outpatient clinics of three tertiary hospitals between April 10 and July 10, 2023. All participants been already found with self-injury behaviors in outpatient when enrolled. NSSI diagnostic criteria and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were utilized to collect NSSI and depressive symptoms separately. We performed a network analysis to visualize the correlation between each symptom and to identify core and bridging symptoms in comorbidities.

Results

A total of 248 patients were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 15.48 (SD = 1.62). Based on the PHQ-9 scores and grades, our results showed that the incidence of depression in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury behavior was relatively high (N=235, 94.76%), with the majority having severe depression. The network analysis revealed that nodes D-6 "feeling bad, failing or letting yourself or your family down", D-1 "little interest or pleasure" and D-4 "feeling tired" were the most vital and most central symptoms. The most crucial bridging symptom is the node NSSI-8 "frequent thinking about self-injury", which connects the NSSI to the depression comorbid network.

Conclusion

This study offers a significant symptom-level conceptualization of the association between NSSI and depressive symptoms in a clinical sample of adolescents, which not only enhances our understanding of the comorbid but also identifies potential treatment targets to prevent and treat comorbidity between adolescent NSSI and depression.