Objective: The current study examined whether attachment styles and the fear of missing out mediated the relationship between cybervictimization/ cyberbullying and depressive symptoms in adolescents. Method: A total of 435 adolescents aged 12–18 years were recruited using cluster sampling. They completed the Cyberbullying Victim Experience Questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Hazen and Shaver Attachment Styles Questionnaire, and the Fear of Missing Out Scale. Direct and indirect effects were measured via a path analysis model. Results: Cybervictimization significantly predicted depressive symptoms (β=0.23, p< .00). Significant indirect effects were found through avoidant (β =0.19, p<.001) and anxious attachment styles (β = 0.13, p<.001), however, fear of missing out was not a significant mediator (β=0.04, p=.14). Cyberbullying showed significant direct or indirect effects nor through attachment styles (β= 0.005, p=.87), (β =0.002, p=.89), neither through FoMO (β=0.002, p=.19). Discussion: Findings suggest that insecurely attached adolescents who are victimized on social media are more vulnerable to depressive symptoms. However, cyberbullies were less likely to experience internalizing depressive symptoms. Interpreting these findings within the sociocultural context offers a deeper understanding of how adolescents internalize online experiences and how such experiences influence their inner world. Conclusion: Relational insecurities, especially anxious attachment, play a far more central role than situational anxieties in linking online victimization to adolescent depressive symptoms. Accordingly, implementing prevention and intervention programs that promote secure parent-child attachment and foster resilience is critically important for strengthening adolescents’ mental health in the face of social media–induced traumatic experiences
Naimijoo et al. (Tue,) studied this question.