Cyberbullying and Traditional Bullying Victimization, Depressive Symptoms, and Suicidal Ideation Among Chinese Early Adolescents: Cognitive Reappraisal and Emotion Invalidation as Moderators

Abstract

This study examined how depressive symptoms play mediating roles between cyberbullying and traditional bullying victimization and suicidal ideation and the moderating roles of cognitive reappraisal and emotion invalidation. A total of 1,823 Chinese adolescents (Mean age = 11.20, SD = 1.21, 47.8% girls) participated this study. Results showed that cyberbullying victimization was more strongly related to suicidal ideation than traditional bullying victimization. Depressive symptoms played mediating roles between cyberbullying and traditional bullying victimization and suicidal ideation. Cognitive reappraisal mitigated the effects of cyberbullying and traditional bullying victimization on depressive symptoms, and perceived emotion invalidation strengthened the effect of depressive symptoms on suicidal ideation. Results further showed that the mediating effect of depressive symptoms was more prominent when there were low levels of cognitive reappraisal and more perceived emotion invalidation. Promoting youths’ cognitive reappraisal and providing validating responses to their depressive symptoms could mitigate the destructive effects of bullying victimization on suicidal ideation.