Differential neural responses to body image-related cyberbullying in adolescent females
Body image-related cyberbullying (BRC), which targets an individual’s body shape, weight, and/or size, is associated with body dissatisfaction and maladaptive eating behaviours among adolescent females. However, its neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. Using functional magnetic resonance imagi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | NeuroImage |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925002691 |
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| author | Taliah Prince Jacob M. Levenstein Christina Driver Kate E. Mulgrew Lia Mills Amanda Boyes Zack Shan Larisa T. McLoughlin Daniel F. Hermens |
| author_facet | Taliah Prince Jacob M. Levenstein Christina Driver Kate E. Mulgrew Lia Mills Amanda Boyes Zack Shan Larisa T. McLoughlin Daniel F. Hermens |
| author_sort | Taliah Prince |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Body image-related cyberbullying (BRC), which targets an individual’s body shape, weight, and/or size, is associated with body dissatisfaction and maladaptive eating behaviours among adolescent females. However, its neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined neural responses to BRC stimuli in 26 females (14–18 years; Mage = 15.54) from the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study. BRC stimuli elicited greater BOLD responses in regions implicated in emotional regulation (insula, anterior cingulate cortex), visual processing (lateral occipital cortex, fusiform gyrus), and social cognition (temporal pole, angular gyrus). Adolescents with recent cyberbullying experiences exhibited greater BOLD responses in the parahippocampal gyrus and lateral occipital cortex, whereas those without body dissatisfaction showed greater responses in the caudate and amygdala. Longitudinally, increased cyberbullying perpetration was associated with greater BOLD responses in the angular and middle temporal gyri. These findings provide insights into neurobiological pathways through which BRC may influence adolescent brain function and mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f5f4cf93f9940b8aae5ffd1ba1e8bfa |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1095-9572 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | NeuroImage |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f5f4cf93f9940b8aae5ffd1ba1e8bfa2025-08-20T02:26:14ZengElsevierNeuroImage1095-95722025-07-0131412126610.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121266Differential neural responses to body image-related cyberbullying in adolescent femalesTaliah Prince0Jacob M. Levenstein1Christina Driver2Kate E. Mulgrew3Lia Mills4Amanda Boyes5Zack Shan6Larisa T. McLoughlin7Daniel F. Hermens8Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia; Corresponding author at. Thompson Institute, UniSC, 12 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya, Queensland, 4575, Australia.Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, AustraliaThompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, AustraliaUniversity of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, AustraliaUniversity of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, AustraliaThompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, AustraliaThompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, AustraliaUniversity of South Australia, SA, AustraliaThompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, AustraliaBody image-related cyberbullying (BRC), which targets an individual’s body shape, weight, and/or size, is associated with body dissatisfaction and maladaptive eating behaviours among adolescent females. However, its neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined neural responses to BRC stimuli in 26 females (14–18 years; Mage = 15.54) from the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study. BRC stimuli elicited greater BOLD responses in regions implicated in emotional regulation (insula, anterior cingulate cortex), visual processing (lateral occipital cortex, fusiform gyrus), and social cognition (temporal pole, angular gyrus). Adolescents with recent cyberbullying experiences exhibited greater BOLD responses in the parahippocampal gyrus and lateral occipital cortex, whereas those without body dissatisfaction showed greater responses in the caudate and amygdala. Longitudinally, increased cyberbullying perpetration was associated with greater BOLD responses in the angular and middle temporal gyri. These findings provide insights into neurobiological pathways through which BRC may influence adolescent brain function and mental health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925002691Body image-related cyberbullyingAdolescent femalesFunctional magnetic resonance imagingEmotional regulationSocial cognition |
| spellingShingle | Taliah Prince Jacob M. Levenstein Christina Driver Kate E. Mulgrew Lia Mills Amanda Boyes Zack Shan Larisa T. McLoughlin Daniel F. Hermens Differential neural responses to body image-related cyberbullying in adolescent females NeuroImage Body image-related cyberbullying Adolescent females Functional magnetic resonance imaging Emotional regulation Social cognition |
| title | Differential neural responses to body image-related cyberbullying in adolescent females |
| title_full | Differential neural responses to body image-related cyberbullying in adolescent females |
| title_fullStr | Differential neural responses to body image-related cyberbullying in adolescent females |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differential neural responses to body image-related cyberbullying in adolescent females |
| title_short | Differential neural responses to body image-related cyberbullying in adolescent females |
| title_sort | differential neural responses to body image related cyberbullying in adolescent females |
| topic | Body image-related cyberbullying Adolescent females Functional magnetic resonance imaging Emotional regulation Social cognition |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925002691 |
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