The role of the parent–child relationship and parental control in the link between adolescent cyber-victimization, risky internet behavior, and self-control

This study extends existing research on adolescent cyber-victimization by highlighting the role of the parent–child relationship as an important protective factor. Drawing on data from a large, self-reported survey of ninth-grade students ( N = 1.546) living in the four largest cities in Czechia and employing structural equation modeling (SEM), the study assesses the direct and indirect effects of the parent–child relationship and parental control on cyber-victimization, considering the mediating roles of risky internet behavior, time spent on social networks, and self-control. Four types of cyber-victimization—mocking and teasing, pornography, fearful content, and sexual harassment—were analyzed. Parental control showed a weak positive effect on cyber-victimization, whereas a better parent–child relationship was consistently associated with less frequent cyber-victimization across all analyzed types. In addition, indirect effects were mediated either through self-control alone or through combinations of lower self-control, higher level of risky internet behavior, and more time spent on social networks. While excessive parental control may be counterproductive, a balanced and supportive parent–child relationship appears to reduce cyber-victimization both directly and indirectly by fostering stronger self-control.