Cyberbullying victimization predicts substance use and mental health problems in adolescents: data from a large-scale epidemiological investigation
PurposeThis study investigated the potential association of cyberbullying victimization (CyVic) on substance use and mental health-related behaviors among Brazilian adolescents, using data derived from the National Survey of School Health (PeNSE).MethodThe sample comprised 146,536 adolescents aged u...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1499352/full |
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| author | Cláudio Romualdo Wanderlei Abadio de Oliveira Luciana Bertoldi Nucci José Eugenio Rodríguez Fernández Laura Soares da Silva Evelin Moreira Freires Amanda Severo Lins Vitta Fernando Ferreira Semolini Lucas da Rosa Ferro Denise de Micheli André Luiz Monezi Andrade |
| author_facet | Cláudio Romualdo Wanderlei Abadio de Oliveira Luciana Bertoldi Nucci José Eugenio Rodríguez Fernández Laura Soares da Silva Evelin Moreira Freires Amanda Severo Lins Vitta Fernando Ferreira Semolini Lucas da Rosa Ferro Denise de Micheli André Luiz Monezi Andrade |
| author_sort | Cláudio Romualdo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PurposeThis study investigated the potential association of cyberbullying victimization (CyVic) on substance use and mental health-related behaviors among Brazilian adolescents, using data derived from the National Survey of School Health (PeNSE).MethodThe sample comprised 146,536 adolescents aged up to 17 years, who were selected through probabilistic and representative sampling. Participants were categorized into two groups: cyber-victim group (CYB), comprising those who reported experiencing threats, offense, or humiliation on social media platforms or messaging apps 30 days before the survey, and non-cybervictim group (nCYB).ResultsOf the participants, 13.3% were classified in the CYB group, with the majority being girls (61.9%) compared to boys (38.1%). The CYB group showed a significantly higher prevalence of substance use, with 22% of these youths reporting illicit drug use compared with 11% in the nCYB group. The CYB group also exhibited significant alcohol and tobacco consumption, as well as the initiation of these substances at a younger average age compared to the nCYB group. Sadness, helplessness, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts were significantly higher in the CYB group. The CYB group also reported lower parental understanding and a higher incidence of aggression, sexual abuse, and episodes of violence among peers and family members.ConclusionThe study results revealed the negative consequences of CyVic, emphasizing the need for effective strategies to address this issue and promote adolescent mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4eacd24cb8f04f7fbe7d9e071b2c3d99 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-4eacd24cb8f04f7fbe7d9e071b2c3d992025-08-20T02:19:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-04-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14993521499352Cyberbullying victimization predicts substance use and mental health problems in adolescents: data from a large-scale epidemiological investigationCláudio Romualdo0Wanderlei Abadio de Oliveira1Luciana Bertoldi Nucci2José Eugenio Rodríguez Fernández3Laura Soares da Silva4Evelin Moreira Freires5Amanda Severo Lins Vitta6Fernando Ferreira Semolini7Lucas da Rosa Ferro8Denise de Micheli9André Luiz Monezi Andrade10School of Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilSchool of Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilSchool of Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilFaculty of Education Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, SpainSchool of Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilSchool of Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilSchool of Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilSchool of Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilDepartment of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Psychobiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilSchool of Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Campinas, BrazilPurposeThis study investigated the potential association of cyberbullying victimization (CyVic) on substance use and mental health-related behaviors among Brazilian adolescents, using data derived from the National Survey of School Health (PeNSE).MethodThe sample comprised 146,536 adolescents aged up to 17 years, who were selected through probabilistic and representative sampling. Participants were categorized into two groups: cyber-victim group (CYB), comprising those who reported experiencing threats, offense, or humiliation on social media platforms or messaging apps 30 days before the survey, and non-cybervictim group (nCYB).ResultsOf the participants, 13.3% were classified in the CYB group, with the majority being girls (61.9%) compared to boys (38.1%). The CYB group showed a significantly higher prevalence of substance use, with 22% of these youths reporting illicit drug use compared with 11% in the nCYB group. The CYB group also exhibited significant alcohol and tobacco consumption, as well as the initiation of these substances at a younger average age compared to the nCYB group. Sadness, helplessness, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts were significantly higher in the CYB group. The CYB group also reported lower parental understanding and a higher incidence of aggression, sexual abuse, and episodes of violence among peers and family members.ConclusionThe study results revealed the negative consequences of CyVic, emphasizing the need for effective strategies to address this issue and promote adolescent mental health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1499352/fulladolescentscyberbullyingemotional issuesrisky behaviorsmental health |
| spellingShingle | Cláudio Romualdo Wanderlei Abadio de Oliveira Luciana Bertoldi Nucci José Eugenio Rodríguez Fernández Laura Soares da Silva Evelin Moreira Freires Amanda Severo Lins Vitta Fernando Ferreira Semolini Lucas da Rosa Ferro Denise de Micheli André Luiz Monezi Andrade Cyberbullying victimization predicts substance use and mental health problems in adolescents: data from a large-scale epidemiological investigation Frontiers in Psychology adolescents cyberbullying emotional issues risky behaviors mental health |
| title | Cyberbullying victimization predicts substance use and mental health problems in adolescents: data from a large-scale epidemiological investigation |
| title_full | Cyberbullying victimization predicts substance use and mental health problems in adolescents: data from a large-scale epidemiological investigation |
| title_fullStr | Cyberbullying victimization predicts substance use and mental health problems in adolescents: data from a large-scale epidemiological investigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cyberbullying victimization predicts substance use and mental health problems in adolescents: data from a large-scale epidemiological investigation |
| title_short | Cyberbullying victimization predicts substance use and mental health problems in adolescents: data from a large-scale epidemiological investigation |
| title_sort | cyberbullying victimization predicts substance use and mental health problems in adolescents data from a large scale epidemiological investigation |
| topic | adolescents cyberbullying emotional issues risky behaviors mental health |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1499352/full |
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