Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40420016›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2025

The mediating roles of anxiety, loneliness, stress, and depression in the relationship between cyberbullying and non-suicidal self-injury: propensity score matching and causal mediation analysis.

Weiyan Yang, Liyan Ning, Qingqing Miao, Feng Xu, Kui Li, Xiangfan Chen, Hongjian Lu

Abstract read
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Article in BMC psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Weiyan Yang *Science and Technology Department, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong city, Jiangsu Province, China.
Liyan Ning *Science and Technology Department, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong city, Jiangsu Province, China.
Qingqing MiaoThe School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong city, Jiangsu Province, China.
Feng XuMedical Examination Center, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong city, Jiangsu Province, China.
Kui LiInformation Department, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong city, Jiangsu Province, China.
Xiangfan ChenScience and Technology Department, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong city, Jiangsu Province, China.
Hongjian LuThe School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong city, Jiangsu Province, China. hongjianlu66ntyy@sina.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) not only causes direct physical harm but also severely impacts mental health, increasing the risks of psychological disorders, behavioral issues, and suicidal tendencies. With the widespread use of the internet and electronic communication tools on smartphones, such as social media and instant messaging applications, cyberbullying has become increasingly prevalent. However, research on the relationship between cyberbullying and NSSI remains relatively limited at present.

methodsThis research was conducted in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, from July to September 2024, utilizing a convenience sampling method with 1,751 participants. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was employed to control for confounding factors, while causal mediation analysis was used to assess the mediating effects of anxiety, depression, stress, and loneliness between cyberbullying and NSSI.

resultsIn this study, 557 participants (31.8%) reported having experienced cyberbullying, Cyberbullying significantly increases NSSI odds through direct and indirect effects, mediated by anxiety (ACME = 0.08, ADE = 0.22, mediated proportion = 0.28), loneliness (ACME = 0.04, ADE = 0.26, mediated proportion = 0.14), stress (ACME = 0.05, ADE = 0.24, mediated proportion = 0.18), and depression (ACME = 0.06, ADE = 0.24, mediated proportion = 0.19).

conclusionThis study explores the relationship between cyberbullying, mental health issues (depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness), and NSSI. Findings show cyberbullying directly and indirectly increases NSSI risk, with loneliness as a key mediator. Despite insights, the study has limitations, suggesting a need for more rigorous designs and comprehensive data.

Indexed as

AnxietyCyberbullyingDepressionLonelinessSelf-Injurious BehaviorStress, PsychologicalAdolescentAdultChinaFemaleHumansMaleMediation AnalysisMiddle AgedPropensity ScoreYoung AdultCausal mediation analysisCyberbullyingNon-suicidal self-injuryPsychological characteristics

Identifiers

PMID40420016
PMCPMC12105394

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.