Cyberbullying and problematic internet use in adolescents with ADHD: exploring the relationship with moral disengagement and social skills

This study explored the relationships between cyberbullying, problematic Internet use (PIU), moral disengagement, and social skills among children with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) due to the scarcity of research in this domain. The sample comprised 3,021 children aged...

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Main Authors: Sigal Eden, Tali Heiman, Dorit Olenik-Shemesh, Yaacov B. Yablon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1577900/full
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author Sigal Eden
Tali Heiman
Dorit Olenik-Shemesh
Yaacov B. Yablon
author_facet Sigal Eden
Tali Heiman
Dorit Olenik-Shemesh
Yaacov B. Yablon
author_sort Sigal Eden
collection DOAJ
description This study explored the relationships between cyberbullying, problematic Internet use (PIU), moral disengagement, and social skills among children with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) due to the scarcity of research in this domain. The sample comprised 3,021 children aged 9–18 (M = 13.74; SD = 3.09), categorized into two groups: 2,247 (74.4%) typically developed (TD) children and 774 (25.6%) diagnosed with ADHD. Participants completed eight questionnaires assessing the study’s variables. Results revealed that children with ADHD displayed higher Internet use, greater PIU, and increased susceptibility to cyberbullying compared to TD peers, alongside elevated moral disengagement and lower social skills. Across both groups, heightened moral disengagement correlated with increased cyberbullying and PIU, while stronger social skills predicted reduced victimization, perpetration, and lower PIU. Moral disengagement emerged as a key factor influencing cyberbullying and PIU in both groups. These findings highlight the heightened risks for children with ADHD and provide insight for developing tailored interventions to address these challenges.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-9e7dec046de342b4919f0803704513b52025-08-20T03:07:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-06-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15779001577900Cyberbullying and problematic internet use in adolescents with ADHD: exploring the relationship with moral disengagement and social skillsSigal Eden0Tali Heiman1Dorit Olenik-Shemesh2Yaacov B. Yablon3Faculty of Education, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, IsraelDepartment of Education and Psychology, The Open University, Ra'anana, IsraelDepartment of Education and Psychology, The Open University, Ra'anana, IsraelFaculty of Education, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, IsraelThis study explored the relationships between cyberbullying, problematic Internet use (PIU), moral disengagement, and social skills among children with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) due to the scarcity of research in this domain. The sample comprised 3,021 children aged 9–18 (M = 13.74; SD = 3.09), categorized into two groups: 2,247 (74.4%) typically developed (TD) children and 774 (25.6%) diagnosed with ADHD. Participants completed eight questionnaires assessing the study’s variables. Results revealed that children with ADHD displayed higher Internet use, greater PIU, and increased susceptibility to cyberbullying compared to TD peers, alongside elevated moral disengagement and lower social skills. Across both groups, heightened moral disengagement correlated with increased cyberbullying and PIU, while stronger social skills predicted reduced victimization, perpetration, and lower PIU. Moral disengagement emerged as a key factor influencing cyberbullying and PIU in both groups. These findings highlight the heightened risks for children with ADHD and provide insight for developing tailored interventions to address these challenges.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1577900/fullcyberbullyingPIUsocial skillsmoral disengagementADHD
spellingShingle Sigal Eden
Tali Heiman
Dorit Olenik-Shemesh
Yaacov B. Yablon
Cyberbullying and problematic internet use in adolescents with ADHD: exploring the relationship with moral disengagement and social skills
Frontiers in Public Health
cyberbullying
PIU
social skills
moral disengagement
ADHD
title Cyberbullying and problematic internet use in adolescents with ADHD: exploring the relationship with moral disengagement and social skills
title_full Cyberbullying and problematic internet use in adolescents with ADHD: exploring the relationship with moral disengagement and social skills
title_fullStr Cyberbullying and problematic internet use in adolescents with ADHD: exploring the relationship with moral disengagement and social skills
title_full_unstemmed Cyberbullying and problematic internet use in adolescents with ADHD: exploring the relationship with moral disengagement and social skills
title_short Cyberbullying and problematic internet use in adolescents with ADHD: exploring the relationship with moral disengagement and social skills
title_sort cyberbullying and problematic internet use in adolescents with adhd exploring the relationship with moral disengagement and social skills
topic cyberbullying
PIU
social skills
moral disengagement
ADHD
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1577900/full
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