Cyberbullying, Cybervictimization, Alexithymia, Digital Self-harm, and Depressive Symptoms among Adolescents with the history of Suicidal Attempts

Abstract

Adolescents is the transition from childhood to maturity. It is the most important and crucial stage of life in which an individual goes through many changes i.e physical social, moral, cognitive and mental. Any disturbance can create many problems for young generation. This quantitative study explored the association between cyber bulling, cyber victimization, alexithymia, digital self harm and depressive symptoms. In addition, the mediating role of digital self harm with cyber bulling, cyber victimization and depressive symptoms and moderating role of alexithymia with mediated association were also explored. Sub-scales of variables were also explored in this study. The research design was correlational. The initial sample was 284 participants with the age range of 12-19 years (N=284, Age range=12-19). The results revealed the positive correlation variables with each other. There was significant mediation of digital self harm with cyber victimization (subscales also) and depressive symptoms. However the alexithymia play significant moderating role in the mediated association of digital self harm with cyber victimization, on the other hand it doesn't moderates the second mediation association between digital self harm and depressive symptoms. This study focus on the young generation who struggle to survive in the silent digital world where they don't even identify themselves and their own emotions and values. This study provides a spotlight how to manage the digital and real life. This helps to make interventions and therapeutic decisions to ensure the mental stability of young generation, privilege of our country and other's as well.