The role of aggression in the association of cyberbullying victimization with cyberbullying perpetration and problematic social media use among adolescents

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that cyberbullying victimization and perpetration are moderately associated. However, possible underlying factors in this relationship are still unclear. Moreover, less is known regarding the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and problematic social media use. The purpose of the present study was to test the direct and indirect association of cyberbullying victimization with cyberbullying perpetration and problematic social media use via aggression. : A total of 496 adolescents completed a survey comprising psychometric instruments of the aforementioned variables. : Structural equation modeling indicated that cyberbullying victimization was directly and indirectly related to cyberbullying perpetration and problematic social media use. Aggression partially explained the aforementioned associations. The model was invariant across male and female adolescents. The findings of the present study suggest that being a cyberbullying victim is related to elevated levels of problematic social media use and cyberbullying perpetration among adolescents. : Health professionals and clinicians that aim to develop intervention strategies for adolescent problematic and anti-social social media use should focus on alleviating negative feelings arising from being a cyberbullying victim.