Perceived-Social Isolation and Cyberbullying Involvement: The Role of Online Social Interaction

Although perceived social isolation (i.e., feelings of loneliness and a perceived lack of social support) has been shown to be associated with the involvement in cyberbullying behaviors, little is known about the mediating mechanisms underlying this relationship. This study tested the mediating role of a preference for online social interaction in the association between perceived social isolation and cyberbullying involvement. Our findings demonstrated that increasing levels of perceived social isolation were associated with enhanced levels of preference for online social interaction, which in turn were associated with a higher probability of being involved in cyberbullying. These findings contribute significantly to the literature on both cyberbullying involvement and problematic internet use, and provide suggestions for practical applications.