Cyber-victimization, social stress, and depressive symptoms among early adolescents: an examination of friendship qualities and victimization from friends

Kim, Shongha

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/116238 Copy

Description

Title

Cyber-victimization, social stress, and depressive symptoms among early adolescents: an examination of friendship qualities and victimization from friends

Author(s)

Kim, Shongha

Issue Date

2022-07-15

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Garthe, Rachel C.

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Garthe, Rachel C.

Committee Member(s)

• Smith, Doug
• Zhan, Min
• Napolitano, Christopher

Department of Study

School of Social Work

Discipline

Social Work

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Cyber-victimization
• Social Stress
• Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

An alarming number of early adolescents in the United States (i.e., youth ages 10 to 14 in middle school) are experiencing forms of victimization. Adolescents are increasingly using smartphones and various social media platforms, which has made many adolescents more vulnerable to victimization in cyberspaces. This cyber-victimization can result in detrimental mental health issues such as depressive symptoms and social stress (i.e., feelings of loneliness and exclusion), which can further lead to additional negative outcomes. Thus, the prevention of cyber-victimization, depressive symptoms, and social stress warrants the attention of school leaders, families, and communities. This dissertation examined the associations between cyber-victimization, depressive symptoms, and social stress among a sample of early adolescents in middle school. Research Aim 1 examined the association between cyber-victimization from various social groups or perpetrators (e.g., from friends, someone at school, family members, etc.), depressive symptoms, and social stress. Research Aim 2 examined the heterogeneity of friendship qualities among early adolescents via a latent profile analysis, and explored how these diverse experiences of friendships are associated with mental health outcomes before (Fall 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Spring 2021). Participants included 554 middle school students in the Fall of 2019, and 330 students in the Spring of 2021. Students were racially and ethnically diverse, and represented two cohorts (i.e., one cohort was followed from sixth to seventh grade; the other from seventh to eighth grade). Results indicated that cyber-victimization was highly prevalent among this sample of early adolescents (59% experienced a form of cyber-victimization in the past year), and an alarming number of students reported clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms and social stress. During the pandemic, students reported a significant increase in depressive symptoms. Results for Research Aim 1 showed that adolescents experienced cyber-victimization from friends the most, and this experience was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and social stress. Other significant associations were found between cyber-victimization (by perpetrator) and depressive symptoms and social stress (which were invariant by gender), highlighting the importance of further studying the context of cyber-victimization. Results for Research Aim 2 revealed four latent profiles of friendship qualities (i.e., absence of qualities, average relationship quality, healthy relationship, and mixed friendship quality profiles). The mixed friendship quality profile showed higher levels of cyber-victimization, depressive symptoms, and social stress compared to the absence of qualities and healthy relationship profiles. The results also showed that adolescents in the mixed friendship quality profile reported higher levels of depressive symptoms at Time 2 (during the pandemic) compared to the healthy relationship profile. These dissertation results highlight important social work research, practice, and research implications. It is suggested that schools implement more prevention programs for cyber-victimization and consider implementing them in earlier grade levels. Also, it is important for schools to promote positive and healthy friendship development to prevent and protect adolescents from experiencing cyber-victimization and heightened levels of depressive symptoms and social stress. Further implications and suggestions for research are included in the discussion.

Graduation Semester

2022-08

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

© 2022 Shongha Kim

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