The Moderating Effect of Self‐Esteem on the Relationships Between Associated Factors and Cyberbullying Behavior Among Thai Adolescents

• Published in: Psychology in the schools Vol. 62; no. 9; pp. 3550 - 3566
• Main Authors: Charoenwanit, Supawadee, Nintachan, Patcharin, Sangon, Sopin, Orathai, Pisamai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2025
• Subjects: Adolescents; Bullying; Cyberbullying; cyberbullying perpetration; depression; Disinhibition; Mental depression; moderating factor; Multiple Regression Analysis; online disinhibition; Peer Relationship; Peer relationships; Prevention programs; Regression analysis; Self Esteem; Side effects; Social media; Teenagers; traditional bullying in school; Victimization
• ISSN: 0033-3085; 1520-6807
• DOI: 10.1002/pits.23559

ABSTRACT Cyberbullying has emerged as a significant problem, impacting adolescents globally, and persistent experiences with this can have adverse effects on their lives. The purposes of this study were 1) to validate the relationships among depression, traditional bullying, traditional victimization, online disinhibition, peer relationships, parental social media mediation, and cyberbullying perpetration among Thai adolescents and 2) to test the moderating effect of self‐esteem on the relationships of depression, traditional bullying, traditional victimization, and online disinhibition with cyberbullying perpetration in Thai adolescents. The results indicated that all of the selected factors jointly predicted an 83.2% variance in cyberbullying perpetration among Thai adolescents. Regarding the moderating role of self‐esteem, the results from the moderated multiple regression analysis showed that self‐esteem significantly moderated the relationships of depression, traditional bullying, traditional victimization, and online disinhibition with cyberbullying perpetration. The information from this study can be applied to develop programs to promote self‐esteem to prevent or reduce cyberbullying perpetration. Summary Depression, traditional bullying, traditional victimization, and online disinhibition were related to cyberbullying perpetration in Thai adolescents. Self‐esteem significantly moderates the relationship between risk factors (depression, traditional bullying, traditional victimization, online disinhibition) and cyberbullying perpetration. Peer relationships are protective factors that negatively predict cyberbullying perpetration, so they need to be promoted in school settings.