Publication Date
2023
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
First Advisor
Demaray, Michelle
Degree Name
Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
Legacy Department
Department of Psychology
Abstract
Bullying is not a new phenomenon, however, given the frequent technology use by youth, bullying has taken on a new platform, the internet (i.e., cyberbullying). Those who are victimized online are at risk for various unfortunate outcomes, such as depression. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies depression as the "single largest contributor to global disability," and the impacts of depression are vast, affecting the daily lives of many. Among a sample of middle school students (N = 126), the current study initially sought to investigate whether symptoms of social anxiety and social media rumination (SMR) serially mediated the association between cybervictimization and depressive symptoms, and whether gender moderated any pathways. However, for reasons described later, an additional ("exploratory") model was run and presented as well. In the exploratory model, SMR was divided into two variables (SMR – Self measures rumination on one’s own social media and SMR – Other measures rumination about other’s social media). SMR (Self and Other) and anxiety symptoms, respectively, were included in the model as mediators. Results suggested that serial mediation occurred in a model with symptoms social anxiety and SMR as mediators and when females and males were examined together. Serial mediation also occurred in the exploratory models with SMR – Self and SMR – Other, however, when boys and girls were examined separately in the multigroup models, serial mediation did not occur for either gender. Last, gender did not significantly moderate any pathways in the model including SMR – Self or SMR – Other.
Recommended Citation
Riffle, Logan, "Cybervictimization and Depression In adolescence: an analysis of anxiety, Social Media Rumination, and Gender" (2023). Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations. 7348.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-thesesdissertations/7348
Extent
78 pages
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Rights Statement 2
NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.
Media Type
Text
