Significant mediation by sadness and self-injury is observed in associations between county-level cyberbullying victimization and youth suicidality in rural New York State.
The ubiquity and popularity of social media among youth has led to skyrocketing increases in cyberbullying rates among American teens. National studies show cyberbullying victimization is experienced differently by sex, race, and sexual orientation. While rural youth experience bullying at higher rates than urban teens, few studies have focused on rural victimization.
We analyzed cross-sectional data from county-level YRBS, years 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023, performing multivariable logistic regressions to assess adjusted relationships between cyberbullying, conventional school bullying and suicidality. Stratified models were used to test for effect modification by sex and sexual orientation and mediation analysis was performed to assess mediation of the relationships between suicidality and bullying modalities by self-harming or sadness. Indirect associations in significant mediated relationships were assessed for effect modification by sex and sexual orientation.
Bullied rural youth were significantly more likely to consider suicide, with larger associations for cyberbullying in girls, and conventional bullying in boys. Cyberbullying and conventional bullying were significantly associated with suicidality, with 55-63% mediation by self-harming, and 51-56% mediation by persistent sadness. Indirect effects were significantly moderated by sexual orientation, but not by sex.
Self-harming and sadness are significant mediators for suicidality in the presence of bullying modalities. Results suggest need for educational programs focused on bullying and responsible internet use alongside tailored interventions based on sex, sexual orientation, and mental health history. Access to compassionate and appropriate treatment in rural school-based health centers may be a solution.
We analyzed cross-sectional data from county-level YRBS, years 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023, performing multivariable logistic regressions to assess adjusted relationships between cyberbullying, conventional school bullying and suicidality. Stratified models were used to test for effect modification by sex and sexual orientation and mediation analysis was performed to assess mediation of the relationships between suicidality and bullying modalities by self-harming or sadness. Indirect associations in significant mediated relationships were assessed for effect modification by sex and sexual orientation.
Bullied rural youth were significantly more likely to consider suicide, with larger associations for cyberbullying in girls, and conventional bullying in boys. Cyberbullying and conventional bullying were significantly associated with suicidality, with 55-63% mediation by self-harming, and 51-56% mediation by persistent sadness. Indirect effects were significantly moderated by sexual orientation, but not by sex.
Self-harming and sadness are significant mediators for suicidality in the presence of bullying modalities. Results suggest need for educational programs focused on bullying and responsible internet use alongside tailored interventions based on sex, sexual orientation, and mental health history. Access to compassionate and appropriate treatment in rural school-based health centers may be a solution.