Association between cybervictimization and sleep quality in a national sample of U.S. young people: examining the moderating role of in-person and social media emotional support

Abstract Background Reduced sleep quality is common in adolescents, and youth from marginalized backgrounds are at heightened risk for cybervictimization, a known contributor to sleep problems. Emotional support has been linked to better sleep but its role in youth experiencing cybervictimization is unclear. We examined whether in-person and SM emotional support moderate the association between cybervictimization and sleep quality in a national sample of youth. Methods From November 2023 to March 2024, 689 youth of marginalized backgrounds (mean age 19, SD 1.52) recruited from social media completed a web-based survey assessing cybervictimization, sleep quality, in person peer emotional support, in person parent emotional support, and social media emotional support. Linear regression models tested moderation effects, adjusting for key demographic covariates. Results Cybervictimization was associated with worse sleep quality (β = 3.034, 95% CI 1.766, 4.302, p < .001). All forms of emotional support were associated with better sleep quality: In-person peer (β = − 0.134, 95% CI –0.195, − 0.072, p < .001), In-person parent (β = − 0.172, 95% CI –0.228, − 0.115, p < .001), and SM-based (β = − 0.09, 95% CI –0.169, − 0.01, p = .0271). Only in-person peer emotional support (β = 0.119, 95% CI 0.016, 0.222, p = .0236) significantly interacted with cybervictimization and sleep, showing a positive direction of effect. Conclusion Cybervictimization was associated with worse sleep, while both in-person and SM emotional support were associated with better sleep. We also found a complex interaction where young people who had increased in-person peer emotional support, moderated worse sleep quality associated with cybervictimization.