Links Between Cyberbullying, Depression and Self-Esteem in a Sample of Brazilian Adolescents

Cyberbullying is considered a serious public health issue, causing concern to students, teachers, parents, and policy makers. Although research on cyberbullying is rapidly growing, most studies to date have come from economically developed countries. This study explores the links between cyberbullying, depression and self-esteem in a sample of Brazilian adolescents (N = 454). Two aspects of cyberbullying are explored: cyber victimization (i.e. being a victim) and cyber aggression (i.e. being a perpetrator). Both cyber aggression and cyber victimisation were positively linked to depression. In addition, cyber aggression was negatively linked to self-esteem. The links between cyberbullying with self-esteem were mediated by depression. The models yielded full mediation effects, in which 97% of the effects of cyber victimization and 86% of the effects of cyber aggression on self-esteem operated via depression. The indirect paths – particularly for cyber aggression – indicate a possible route in which adolescents might suffer the consequences of cyber aggression