Relationship Between Cyberbullying Victimization and Depression in Middle School Students: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies and the Moderating Role of Face Consciousness

Relationship Between Cyberbullying Victimization and Depression in Middle School Students: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies and the Moderating Role of Face Consciousness | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Relationship Between Cyberbullying Victimization and Depression in Middle School Students: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies and the Moderating Role of Face Consciousness han song, Lingbo Zhao This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5185708/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 26 Dec, 2024 Read the published version in BMC Psychology → Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background The more rapid adoption of the Internet in education settings has raised concerns about its impact on adolescents who may suffer from cyberbullying victimization. As a negative life experience, cyberbullying victimization can adversely affect adolescents’ mental health. Particularly, it can lead to more adolescents developing depression. Based on this, we developed and tested a moderated mediation model to examine whether coping strategies mediate the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and depression, and whether this mediating process was moderated by face consciousness. Method This study used a cross-sectional survey design with a sample of 1,586 middle school students from northwestern China, including 782 females (mean age 13.76 ± 1.03 years; age range 12–16). Participants completed an anonymous paper-and-pencil survey that assessed their experiences with cyberbullying victimization, coping strategies, face consciousness, and depressive symptoms. Result The findings revealed that cyberbullying victimization (Beta = 0.36, t = 16.17, p < 0.001) significantly predicted level of depression in adolescents. Coping strategies (Effect = 0.19, p < 0.001) partially mediated this relationship. Additionally, face consciousness (Beta = -0.09, t = -4.61, p < 0.001) moderated the mediation: as face consciousness increased, the impact of coping strategies on depression became stronger. Conclusion These findings provide valuable insights into how and when cyberbullying affects adolescent depression, offering potential guidance for prevention and intervention strategies aimed at reducing the impact of cyberbullying on depressive symptoms in this vulnerable population. Cyberbullying Victimization Depression symptom Coping strategies Face consciousness Adolescent Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Introduction With the widespread adoption of the Internet and rapid advancements in information technology, the Internet has become an integral part of adolescents’ daily lives, serving as a key platform for information acquisition and social interaction. However, alongside the convenience it offers, the Internet has also emerged as a medium for harmful behaviors, most notably cyberbullying [ 1 ]. Cyberbullying is an intentional act repeatedly committed against an individual or a group by an individual or group using electronic information communication tools [ 2 ]. During online activities, adolescents often lack sufficient awareness of online safety and self-protection skills, making them particularly vulnerable to becoming targets of cyberbullying attacks [ 3 , 4 ]. For instance, Vranjes (2018) reported that 32% of adolescents had experienced cyberbullying, compared to only 20% of adults [ 5 ]. More recently, Wang and Zhou (2022) revealed an alarming rise, with 71% of adolescents reporting cyberbullying experiences, such as insults, threats, and harassment [ 6 ]. These findings highlight that cyberbullying has become a pervasive issue among the adolescent population. Unlike traditional forms of school bullying, cyberbullying is characterized by the inescapability, anonymity of perpetrators, and breadth of potential audience, which can exacerbate its psychological impact on adolescent victims [ 7 ]. Research has consistently shown that cyberbullying victimization can have severe psychological consequences, particularly among adolescents, who are in a critical stage of emotional and social development [ 8 – 10 ]. One of the most concerning outcomes of cyberbullying is its association with mental health issues, particularly depression [ 11 ]. Adolescents who experience cyberbullying often face ongoing emotional distress [ 12 ], loneliness [ 13 ], and damage to their self-esteem [ 14 ], all of which are significant risk factors for developing depressive symptoms [ 15 ]. Given the irreversible trend of digitalization and the decreasing age of digital citizens [ 16 ], exploring the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent depression is crucial for developing effective interventions and supporting solutions to mitigate its impact. In addition, examining potential variables that mediate or moderate the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and the development of depressive symptoms may contribute to the design of effective prevention and intervention strategies in the future. Based on this, this study investigated the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and depression among adolescents, while exploring the mediating role of coping strategies in this relationship. Additionally, we also examined whether face consciousness moderates the direct and indirect links between cyberbullying victimization and depression. Cyberbullying and depression Depression, also known as mental disorder, is a prevalent mental health issue characterized by persistent low mood, loss of interest, and a pervasive sense of helplessness in daily activities [ 15 ]. This impacts adolescent development, including emotional well-being, cognitive functions, behavioral patterns, and physical health [ 17 ]. Research indicates that most adolescents experience depressive symptoms when faced with stressful events or unpleasant situations [ 17 , 18 ]. Adolescence is a critical period of emotional, social, and cognitive development, during which individuals are particularly susceptible to external stressors [ 18 ]. For adolescents, cyberbullying represents a severe and enduring stressor [ 19 ]. When confronted by cyberbullying events, adolescents may experience significant psychological stress, lose control over the external environment, leading to a negative emotional perception, which increases their risk of developing depression [ 20 ]. Gamez-Guadix et al.’s research shows that cyberbullying victimization can cause significant psychological stress among European adolescents, leading to emotional states like tension and distress that can evolve into depressive symptoms [ 21 ]. Chamizo et al.’s research revealed that adolescents who experienced higher levels of cyberbullying were more likely to exhibit stronger depressive symptoms [ 22 ]. Those studies suggest that cyberbullying victimization is a risk factor for depressive symptoms in adolescents. Thus, the main objective of this study was to examine the potential mechanisms between cyberbullying victimization and depression. The mediating role of coping strategies Coping strategies are defined as specific behaviors and psychological efforts that individuals use to manage, reduce, minimize, or tolerate stressful events [ 23 ]. According to the Stress and Coping theory [ 24 ], when faced with a stressor, an individual undergoes two cognitive appraisal processes that adjust the relationship between the stressor and its consequences. In the primary cognitive appraisal, an individual evaluates the current situation for potential threats and challenges. If the situation is perceived as dangerous or requiring a response, stress emerges. Subsequently, in the secondary appraisal, the individual assesses their ability and resources to cope with the stressor. Based on this assessment, they select an appropriate coping strategy to confront the stressor and reduce its negative impact [ 24 , 25 ]. Roth [ 26 ] categorizes coping strategies into two types: approach coping and avoidance coping. Approach coping strategies aim to tackle the source of stress directly, such as by seeking help or solving problems. In contrast, avoidance coping strategies focus on managing the emotional response to stress, such as through avoidance or venting. Cyberbullying often triggers strong negative emotional responses in victims, leading to lower self-esteem, and an increased sense of loneliness [ 14 ], which may drive victims to adopt avoidance strategies as a means of escaping distressing situations. In other words, victims of cyberbullying are more likely to use avoidance tactics to prevent further conflict and deterioration of interpersonal relationships. Indeed, one study found that adolescents who experience cyberbullying are more inclined to choose avoidance strategies over approach strategies [ 27 ]. On the other hand, while avoidance strategies may temporarily alleviate the stress and anxiety experienced by victims, they fail to address the root causes of bullying and, over time, may contribute to the development of internalizing problems [ 28 , 29 ]. Research has also shown that adolescents who rely on avoidance coping strategies are at a higher risk of developing depression [ 3 , 30 ]. Therefore, we expect that coping strategies mediate the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and adolescent depression. The moderating role of face consciousness Face consciousness is considered a personal trait that involves both the desire to maintain one’s reputation and the concern over damaging it, which the latter is commonly referred to as the fear of losing face [ 31 ]. In recent years, many scholars have explored the relationship between face consciousness and individuals’ internal emotional experiences and external behaviors. An empirical study found a positive correlation between cortisol levels (a physiological indicator of stress response) and face consciousness, suggesting that individuals with higher face consciousness may exhibit heightened responsiveness to stressors [ 32 ]. Meanwhile, some scholars have found a correlation between an individual's face consciousness and negative emotional experiences under stress. For example, in competitive work environments, new employees with high levels of face consciousness often exhibit more severe emotional issues, such as social anxiety [ 33 ]. Therefore, when involved in cyberbullying, victims with high face consciousness may perceive greater stress and experience more negative emotions, thereby increasing the risk of developing depression among adolescents. Face negotiation theory suggests that an individual's behavior in stressful situations is influenced by their awareness of their own face [ 34 ]. As face consciousness increases, so does the perceived risk of losing face, leading individuals to take steps to safeguard their reputation and image. For example, in competitive work environments, avoid expressing ideas to protect their face [ 35 ]. Similarly, in business negotiations, those with high face consciousness may cancel negotiations or proceed cautiously to prevent losing face [ 36 ]. Thus, in cyberbullying situations, individuals with high face consciousness are more likely to adopt negative, avoidance coping strategies to protect their face from harm. Moreover, according to the stress and coping theory [ 24 ], personality traits not only influence the choice of coping strategies but also affect mental health outcomes after these strategies are used. For instance, in the context of cyberbullying, self-esteem moderates the link between coping strategies and depression, with high self-esteem acting as a buffer, reducing the harmful effects of negative coping on depression [ 3 , 37 ]. Face consciousness reflects an individual’s concern with how others evaluate them, and is closely linked to self-esteem [ 38 , 39 ]. It is plausible that face consciousness also moderated the relationship between coping strategies and depression. Therefore, we expect that face consciousness may play a moderating role in the mediation process between cyberbullying victimization, coping strategies, and their impact on depression. Current research In summary, to further elucidate the formation and developmental mechanisms underlying depression among middle school students suffering cyberbullying victimization, a multifactorial integration perspective is required to concurrently investigate the mediating and moderating mechanisms of cyberbullying victimization, coping strategies, and face consciousness. Based on stress and coping theory and face negotiation theory, our study proposes a moderated mediation model (see Fig. 1 ). The following hypotheses are proposed: H1: Cyberbullying victimization significantly and positively predicts adolescent depression. H2: The association between cyberbullying victimization and adolescent depression is mediated by coping strategies. H2a: Cyberbullying victimization significantly negatively predicts coping strategies. H2b: Coping strategies significantly negatively predict adolescent depression. H3: Face consciousness moderates both the direct and indirect pathways between cyberbullying victimization and adolescent depression. Specifically, the direct and indirect relations between cyberbullying perpetration and depression would be much stronger for young adults with higher levels of face consciousness. H3a: Face consciousness moderates the direct pathway between cyberbullying and depression. H3b: Face consciousness moderates the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and coping strategies. H3c: Face consciousness moderates the relationship between coping strategies and depression. Methods Participants According to Kline [ 40 ], a representative sample requires large-scale sampling methods, with a sample size exceeding 20 times the number of items. Given that this study includes 77 items, a minimum sample size of 1,540 is needed. The study was conducted in November and December 2023 in cities in northwestern China. Initially, 1,692 participants were recruited. After excluding those who did not respond seriously or failed to complete the required number of questions, 1,586 participants (93.81%) were included in the final data analysis. This sample size aligns with the requirements for large-scale surveys. The participants included 804 males (50.69%) and 782 females (49.31%), aged 12 to 16 years (M = 13.76, SD = 1.03). Among them, 1,364 were non-only children (86.00%), and 222 were only children (14.00%). Overall, the findings indicated that a significant majority (69.42%) of adolescents had experienced cyberbullying (CV score ≥ 2). Measures Cyberbullying Victimization Scale The Cyberbullying Victimization Scale (CBI) was used to evaluate adolescents’ experiences of cyberbullying victimization over the past year [ 41 ]. The CBI consists of 18 different cyberbullying victimization activities. A score of more than 2 points on any single item indicates a recent experience of cyberbullying victimization. The CBI uses a 4-point scale, where 1 represents “0 times” and 4 represents “more than 5 times,” with higher scores indicating more severe instances of cyberbullying. The reliability and validity of the CBI have been well-established among Chinese adolescents [ 20 ], and in this study, the scale showed strong reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.90). Face Consciousness Scale The Face Consciousness Scale was used to assess the level of face consciousness among adolescents [ 31 ]. The scale includes 11 items, each rated on a 7-point Likert scale, where 1 represents “not at all consistent” and 7 represents “fully consistent.” Higher scores reflect a stronger inclination to value and protect one's public image in daily life. The scale has proven to be a reliable tool in Chinese test groups [ 42 ], and in this study, it also demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.82). Coping Strategies Scale The Coping Strategy Scale was used to evaluate the coping strategies adolescents might use when facing cyberbullying [ 43 ]. The scale consists of 28 items that measure both approach and avoidance coping strategies, rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 means “never” and 5 means “always.” The scoring is calculated by subtracting the average score of avoidance strategies from the average score of approach strategies. A positive total score indicates a tendency to use approach strategies, while a negative total score suggests a preference for avoidance strategies. In this study, the scale showed good reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.80). Depression Scale The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is employed to assess depressive symptoms in adolescents over the past week [ 44 ]. The CES-D consists of 20 items rated on a 4-point scale, where 0 represents “not at all” and 3 represents “most of the time.” Higher scores reflect more severe depressive symptoms in adolescents. The reliability of the CES-D has been confirmed in Chinese adolescents [ 45 ], and in this study, it also showed good reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.90). Data analysis All data were processed and analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 4.2 software packages. First, statistical analyses were conducted on the common method bias and the prevalence of cyberbullying. Second, descriptive analysis was performed to examine correlations between the variables. Third, following the approach of previous studies, this study tests the mediating effect of coping strategies and the moderating effect of face consciousness in two steps. Considering the impact of gender and age on depression and cyberbullying, these factors were included as control variables during data analysis in this study, enhancing the accuracy of hypothesis testing. Results Common method bias Although this study followed strictly standardized measurement procedures and participants completed the questionnaire anonymously, there is still a potential for common method bias due to the use of self-reported data. To address this, the Harman one-factor test was used to detect common method bias [ 46 ]. The results revealed 16 factors with eigenvalues greater than 1, with the first factor explaining only 15.95% of the total variance, which is below the critical threshold of 40%. This suggests that significant common method bias is not present in the data. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis Table 1 displays the descriptive statistics and correlations among the study variables and the demographic variables. The results showed significant positive correlations between cyberbullying victimization, face consciousness and depression symptoms, and cyberbullying victimization was significantly negatively correlated with coping strategies. Face consciousness was significantly negatively correlated with depression symptoms, and was significantly positively correlated with depression symptoms. In addition, gender, and age were significantly correlated with cyberbullying victimization, coping strategies, depression symptoms or face consciousness. To avoid the possible influence of demographic variables, gender and age will be controlled as covariates in the subsequent statistical analysis. Table 1 Descriptive and correlation analysis of variables in this study ( N = 1586, M ± SD) M SD 1 2 3 4 5 6 1. Gender 1.49 0.50 1 2. Age 13.59 1.03 -0.04 1 3. CV 22.53 6.47 -0.06 * -0.001 1 4. FC 39.51 11.56 0.01 -0.05 * 0.27 ** 1 5. CT 10.06 11.51 -0.06 * -0.03 -0.26 ** -0.33 ** 1 6. CESD 38.05 10.58 0.13 ** -0.65 ** 0.36 ** 0.30 ** -0.37 ** 1 Notes. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001; CV = Cyberbullying Victimization: FC = Face Consciousness; CT = Coping Strategies; CESD = The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; the same as below. Mediation analysis The mediating effect of coping strategies on the association between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying victimization was tested using Model 4 in Hayes’ (2013) PROCESS program. Cyberbullying victimization as an independent variable, coping strategies as a mediating variable, and depression symptoms as a dependent variable, were included in the model. After controlling for gender and age, results showed that cyberbullying victimization significantly predicted depression symptoms ( β = 0.36, SE = 0.02, p < 0.001) and coping strategies ( β = -0.26, SE = 0.03, p < 0.001), and those coping strategies significantly predicted depression symptoms ( β = -0.27, SE = 0.02, p < 0.001). The significance of the mediating effect was determined by the Bootstrap method, which showed a mediating effect value of 0.07 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.06–0.09. As this did not contain 0, a significant mediating effect of coping strategies could be assumed. This effect accounted for 19.44% of the total effect (0.36) (see Table 2 ). Table 2 Mediating model test of coping strategies Regression equation Overall fit index Significance of regression coefficients Outcome variable Predictor variable R R ² F β 95%CI t CESD Gender 0.40 0.16 100.14 *** 0.29 [0.20, 0.38] 6.52 *** Age -0.06 [-0.098, -0.013] -2.57 ** CVS 0.36 [0.32, 0.40] 16.17 *** CTS Gender 0.27 0.07 41.51 *** -0.16 [-0.26, -0.07] -3.31 *** Age -0.03 [-0.08, 0.01] -1.40 CVS -0.26 [-0.31, -0.22] -10.76 *** CESD Gender 0.49 0.24 122.16 *** 0.25 [0.16, 0.33] 5.78 *** Age -0.07 [-0.11, -0.02] -3.13 ** CVS 0.29 [0.25, 0.33] 13.08 *** CTS -0.27 [-0.32, -0.23] -12.58 *** Moderated mediation model analysis Model 59 in the PROCESS program was used to test a moderated mediation model with face consciousness as a possible moderator by controlling gender and age. Results showed that, the product term of coping strategies and face consciousness was significant in the prediction of depression symptoms ( β = -0.09, SE = 0.02, p < 0.001), suggesting that face consciousness moderated the association between coping strategies and depression symptoms. However, the product term of cyberbullying victimization and face consciousness was not significant in the prediction of coping strategies ( β = -0.01, SE = 0.02, p = 0.70), and depression symptoms ( β = -0.04, SE = 0.02, p = 0.09), suggesting that face consciousness not moderated the association between cyberbullying victimization and coping strategies, and between cyberbullying victimization and depression symptoms (See Fig. 2 and Table 3 ). Table 3 Moderated mediation model test Regression equation Overall fit index Significance of regression coefficients Outcome variable Predictor variable R R ² F β 95%CI t CTS Gender 0.38 0.15 54.13 *** -0.15 [-0.24, -0.05] -3.08 *** Age -0.05 [-0.091, -0.002] -2.04 * CVS -0.18 [-0.23, -0.13] -6.56 *** FCS -0.28 [-0.33, -0.23] -11.64 *** CVS×FCS -0.01 [-0.06, 0.04] -0.39 CESD Gender 0.51 0.26 80.23 *** 0.24 [0.22, 0.32] 5.80 *** Age -0.06 [-0.26, -0.07] -2.69 ** CVS 0.27 [0.22, 0.32] 10.95 *** CTS -0.24 [-0.28, -0.19] -10.63 *** CVS×FCS -0.04 [-0.09, 0.01] -1.71 FCS 0.12 [0.08, 0.17] 5.42 *** CTS×FCS -0.09 [-0.13, -0.05] -4.61 *** To clarify the moderating effect of face consciousness on the relationship between coping strategies and depression symptoms, a simple slopes analysis was conducted based on high and low groupings (plus and minus one standard deviation) of face consciousness. Results showed that in those with high face consciousness, coping strategies were more predictive of depression symptoms ( β = 0.-0.32, p < 0.001), with 95% confidence intervals of -0.38 ~ -0.27. In contrast, for individuals with low face consciousness, coping strategies were less predictive of depression symptoms ( β = -0.15, p < 0.001), with a 95% confidence interval of -0.20 ~ -0.09 (Fig. 3 ). Discussion This study developed a moderated mediation model grounded in stress and coping theory, along with face negotiation theory, to examine the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and depression. Coping strategies were tested as the mediating variable, while face consciousness was explored as a moderating factor. Our findings revealed that cybervictimization significantly and positively predicted depressive symptoms through the mediation of coping strategies. Additionally, face consciousness moderated the relationship between coping strategies and depression. These results offer valuable insights into the complex psychological mechanisms linking cyberbullying to mental health outcomes. The mediating role of coping strategies The results of this study indicate that a significant positive correlation between cyberbullying victimization and depression among adolescents, suggesting that cyberbullying victimization, as a stressor, can trigger intense depressive emotions [ 20 , 47 ]. Moreover, we found that coping strategies mediated the link between the cyberbullying victimization and depressive symptoms in adolescents. Previous research has examined the effects of approach and avoidance coping strategies on the relationship between cyberbullying and depression, but typically considering their impacts in isolation [ 27 , 28 ]. However, individuals often employ multiple coping strategies simultaneously when responding to stress. This means that choosing an avoidance strategy does not necessarily preclude the use of an approach strategy, and vice versa [ 25 ]. In this study, we viewed coping strategies as a continuum and examined the role of the global coping strategy tendencies, where adolescents’ coping tendencies were measured by subtracting avoidant strategy scores from approach strategy scores. A negative score indicated a preference for avoidant strategies, while a positive score suggested a tendency toward approach strategies in the context of cyberbullying. Therefore, we provided a more comprehensive perspective on adolescents’ behavioral responses to cyberbullying by considering the simultaneous use of multiple coping strategies, rather than examining them in isolation. In the first half of the mediation model, our study found that cyberbullying victimization significantly and negatively predicted coping strategies, consistent with previous research [ 48 , 49 ]. The tension and anxiety from cyberbullying events, may drive adolescents to adopt more negative coping. Moreover, in the second half of the mediation model, our study found that coping strategies significantly and negatively predicted adolescent depression, suggesting that negative coping increases adolescent depression levels [ 37 ]. One possible explanation is that negative coping offers only a short-term and superficial relief from adolescents’ emotional distress, such as anxiety and tension [ 25 ]. While this may offer temporary comfort, it ultimately fails to address the persistent harm causes of cyberbullying. When adolescents experience severe cyberbullying, negative coping can prove ineffective, potentially deepening their feelings of helplessness and hopelessness [ 20 ], which may lead to serious mental health problems. Therefore, our results reveal a potential mechanism whereby cyberbullying victimization enhances middle school students’ tendency to negative coping, subsequently amplifying the impact of stressful events and ultimately contributing to the emergence of depression. The moderating role of face consciousness This study found that face consciousness did not significantly moderate the impact of cyberbullying on coping strategies and depression. One possible explanation for this finding is that cyberbullying may exert a powerful and direct negative influence on individuals’ psychological well-being [ 9 , 10 ], overshadowing the moderating role of face consciousness. Even when individuals possess strong face consciousness, the intense negative experiences associated with cyberbullying may overwhelm its moderating effects, rendering it ineffective. In other words, the direct impact of cyberbullying may far exceed the indirect moderating influence of face consciousness. Additionally, the anonymity inherent in online environments allows individuals to conceal their true identities, thereby reducing social pressure from others [ 7 ]. Consequently, when faced with cyberbullying, individuals may not experience a significant sense of face loss, which could diminish the moderating role of face consciousness. Notably, we found that face consciousness moderated the impact of coping strategies on depression. Specifically, high face consciousness may amplify the impact of negative coping strategies on psychological and mental stress among cybervictimization adolescents, ultimately increasing the occurrence of depression. According to Goffman’s point of face [ 50 ] and previous research [ 31 , 51 ], face consciousness refers to an individual's sensitivity to negative comments from others, and that high face consciousness is related to humiliation and lower happiness. So, once adolescents choose negative coping strategies to deal with cyberbullying, face consciousness may cause humiliation and low happiness in victims, and the accumulation of negative emotions may ultimately increase the risk of depression. Thus, our findings provide some evidence of the potential risky role of face consciousness on psychological health in adolescents suffering cybervictimization. Limitations and future research directions Our research has several limitations. First, the generalizability of the findings is limited since the study focused solely on adolescents. Future studies should expand to include different age groups and populations, including various occupational groups engaged in Internet-related activities. Second, from a cross-cultural perspective, face consciousness is more prominent among Chinese individuals, who place greater importance on social image and seek external validation compared to Western individuals [ 34 ]. Since this study included only adolescents from Northwest China, we could not examine face consciousness across cultures or determine its role outside of China. Future research should explore these cross-cultural dimensions to assess whether face consciousness acts as a related factor in cyberbullying in different cultural contexts. Third, while this study identified the moderating role of face consciousness, it was limited to the relationship between coping strategies and adolescent depression. Future studies should explore other mental health issues, such as anxiety and self-harm, thereby may providing deeper insights into the complex relationship between face consciousness and adolescent mental health. Conclusion Overall, this study examined the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and adolescent depression, focusing on the mediating role of coping strategies and the moderating effect of face consciousness in this process. The results indicated a positive relationship between cyberbullying victimization and adolescent depression, with coping strategies mediating this relationship. In addition, face consciousness moderated the mediating effect of coping strategies on the relationship between cyberbullying and adolescent depression. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms by which cyberbullying victimization leads to depressive symptoms in adolescents and aid in identifying effective interventions to reduce the risk of adolescent depression. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate The research was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and received approval from the Institutional Review Board at the department of applied psychology, school of humanities and social sciences, Fuzhou University. All participants carefully read and signed the informed consent form before beginning their participation in this study. The form included information about the study's general content, data protection, privacy measures, and the right to withdraw at any time. Consent for publication Not applicable. Availability of data and materials Data from this study have been uploaded to the Open Science Framework, and open access links will be provided upon acceptance of the manuscript. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Funding This work was supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China (19BSH087). Authors’ contribution S.H.: resources, conceptualization and methodology, validation, visualization, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing; L.Z.: conceptualization and methodology, validation, resources, data curation, project administration, writing—review and editing. Acknowledgement The authors wish to thank each participant who took part in this study. Authors' information Song Han: Graduate student. 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The Journal of Social Psychology, 2011. 151 (2): p. 129-149. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224540903366669 Gong, P., et al., Associations of Chinese social face with cortisol level and glucocorticoid receptor gene. Current Psychology, 2022. 41 (11): p. 7565-7573. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01255-5 Wang, C. and Y.Z. Zhang, Social face consciousness and help-seeking behavior in new employees: Perceived social support and social anxiety as mediators. Social Behavior and Personality, 2021. 49 (10). https://dx.doi.org/10.2224/sbp.10769 Ting-Toomey, S. and A. Kurogi, Facework competence in intercultural conflict: An updated face-negotiation theory. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 1998. 22 (2): p. 187-225. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0147-1767(98)00004-2 Wu, M., et al., Workplace suspicion, knowledge hiding, and silence behavior: A double-moderated mediation model of knowledge-based psychological ownership and face consciousness. Frontiers in Psychology, 2023. 14 . https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.982440 Miles, E.W., The role of face in the decision not to negotiate. International Journal of Conflict Management, 2010. 21 (4): p. 400-414. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10444061011079949 Quynh Ho, T.T., C. Gu, and L. Wang, Coping strategies and depression among cyberbullying victims in Vietnam: Self -esteem as a moderator. Technology in Society, 2022. 68 : p. 101827. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101827 Li, J., X.A. Zhang, and G. Sun, Effects of “Face”Consciousness on Status Consumption among Chinese Consumers: Perceived Social Value as a Mediator. Psychological Reports, 2015. 116 (1): p. 280-291. https://dx.doi.org/10.2466/17.07.PR0.116k11w3 Wei, H.F., et al., How does consumers' face consciousness influence green self-efficacy and consumption behavior, and how does electronic and social media persuasion moderate these relationships? Computers in Human Behavior, 2024. 153 . https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.108091 Markus, K.A., Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling, 3rd edition. Structural Equation Modeling-a Multidisciplinary Journal, 2012. 19 (3): p. 509-512 https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2012.687667 Zhou, Z., et al., Cyberbullying and its risk factors among Chinese high school students. School Psychology International, 2013. 34 (6): p. 630-647. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0143034313479692 Zhao, H., H. Zhang, and Y. Xu, How social face consciousness influences corrupt intention: Examining the effects of Honesty–Humility and moral disengagement. The Journal of Social Psychology, 2019. 159 (4): p. 443-458. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2018.1507992 Causey DL,. and EF Dubow, Development of a Self-Report Coping Measure for Elementary-School-Children. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology 1992, 21(1) : p. 47-59. https://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15374424jccp21018 Radloff, L., The CES-D Scale: A Self-Report Depression Scale for Research in the General Population. Applied Psychological Measurement - APPL PSYCHOL MEAS, 1977. 1 : p. 385-401. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/014662167700100306 Xie, X.C., et al., Does forgiveness alleviate depression after being phubbed for emerging adults? The mediating role of self-esteem. Computers in Human Behavior, 2020. 109 . https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106362 Liu, Y.L., et al., Relationship between childhood trauma and non-suicidal self-injury in high school students: the mediating role of the stress perception and the moderating role of teacher-student relationship. Bmc Psychology, 2024. 12 (1). https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01883-7 Sheanoda, V. and K. Bussey, Victims of Cyberbullying: An Examination of Social Cognitive Processes Associated with Cyberbullying Victimization. Journal of School Violence, 2021. 20 (4): p. 567-580.https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2021.1984933 Chen, H., et al., Cyberbullying victimization and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among college students: mediating role of negative coping and moderating role of perceived control. Current Psychology, 2024. 43 (21): p. 19294-19303. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-05760-9 Varela, J.J., et al., To ignore or not to ignore: The differential effect of coping mechanisms on depressive symptoms when facing adolescent cyberbullying. Computers in Human Behavior, 2022. 132 : p. 107268. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107268 Goffman, E., On Face-Work An Analysis of Ritual Elements in Social Interaction. Psychiatry Interpersonal & Biological Processes, 1955. 18 (3): p. 213-231. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00332747.1955.11023008 Zhang, X.A., P. Tian, and N. Grigoriou, Gain face, but lose happiness? It depends on how much money you have. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 2011. 14 (2): p. 112-125. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-839X.2010.01336.x Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 26 Dec, 2024 Read the published version in BMC Psychology → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 03 Oct, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 02 Oct, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 02 Oct, 2024 First submitted to journal 01 Oct, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5185708","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":361848929,"identity":"fd5de589-996f-44c3-8712-0d2f6f243bc4","order_by":0,"name":"han song","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Fuzhou University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"han","middleName":"","lastName":"song","suffix":""},{"id":361848930,"identity":"98a9e627-29a9-4b27-a553-8296c9ad03e4","order_by":1,"name":"Lingbo Zhao","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAqklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACdh7GBxVgVgKxWph5mA3OkKqFTYI0LfLNvMcqDvw5zMDPnmPA8HMHEVoYm/nSbhzgOcwg2fPGgLH3DDHuYuYxu/1B4jCDwY0cA2bGNiK0sAG1FBwwOMxgT7QWHqAWhgMJQFskiNUiwcyXLHHgQDqPxJlnBQd7idEi39578MOBP9Zy/O3JGx/8JEYL3IEg4gAJGkbBKBgFo2AU4AMA26EvuRKs12gAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Fuzhou University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lingbo","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhao","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-10-01 08:38:14","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5185708/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5185708/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02320-5","type":"published","date":"2024-12-26T15:57:17+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":70506365,"identity":"527b9458-bc36-4680-8a28-09e1f5b39bce","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-03 23:37:44","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":87088,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eProposed theoretical model\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5185708/v1/f2538f82ac78907e40a07309.png"},{"id":70506364,"identity":"62480465-60fd-4440-a4fd-0e663d224971","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-03 23:37:44","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":92992,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eThe mediation of cyberbullying victimization and depression through coping strategies\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5185708/v1/188cb49f74ac61fd76208217.png"},{"id":70506366,"identity":"b6f08faf-0601-443b-ba3c-648a6b7a8a32","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-03 23:37:44","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":61449,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eThe Moderating Role of Face Consciousness on the relationship between coping strategies and depression\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5185708/v1/97b73bb82e6527c3d59435af.png"},{"id":72640526,"identity":"285e5556-ab52-43d5-b052-3a9711fd2416","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-30 16:06:27","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1070882,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5185708/v1/64898f1c-8278-46e7-8741-25aff23159d8.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Relationship Between Cyberbullying Victimization and Depression in Middle School Students: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies and the Moderating Role of Face Consciousness","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eWith the widespread adoption of the Internet and rapid advancements in information technology, the Internet has become an integral part of adolescents\u0026rsquo; daily lives, serving as a key platform for information acquisition and social interaction. However, alongside the convenience it offers, the Internet has also emerged as a medium for harmful behaviors, most notably cyberbullying [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Cyberbullying is an intentional act repeatedly committed against an individual or a group by an individual or group using electronic information communication tools [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. During online activities, adolescents often lack sufficient awareness of online safety and self-protection skills, making them particularly vulnerable to becoming targets of cyberbullying attacks [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. For instance, Vranjes (2018) reported that 32% of adolescents had experienced cyberbullying, compared to only 20% of adults [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. More recently, Wang and Zhou (2022) revealed an alarming rise, with 71% of adolescents reporting cyberbullying experiences, such as insults, threats, and harassment [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. These findings highlight that cyberbullying has become a pervasive issue among the adolescent population.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnlike traditional forms of school bullying, cyberbullying is characterized by the inescapability, anonymity of perpetrators, and breadth of potential audience, which can exacerbate its psychological impact on adolescent victims [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. Research has consistently shown that cyberbullying victimization can have severe psychological consequences, particularly among adolescents, who are in a critical stage of emotional and social development [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR9\" citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. One of the most concerning outcomes of cyberbullying is its association with mental health issues, particularly depression [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. Adolescents who experience cyberbullying often face ongoing emotional distress [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e], loneliness [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e], and damage to their self-esteem [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e], all of which are significant risk factors for developing depressive symptoms [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. Given the irreversible trend of digitalization and the decreasing age of digital citizens [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e], exploring the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent depression is crucial for developing effective interventions and supporting solutions to mitigate its impact. In addition, examining potential variables that mediate or moderate the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and the development of depressive symptoms may contribute to the design of effective prevention and intervention strategies in the future. Based on this, this study investigated the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and depression among adolescents, while exploring the mediating role of coping strategies in this relationship. Additionally, we also examined whether face consciousness moderates the direct and indirect links between cyberbullying victimization and depression.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCyberbullying and depression\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDepression, also known as mental disorder, is a prevalent mental health issue characterized by persistent low mood, loss of interest, and a pervasive sense of helplessness in daily activities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. This impacts adolescent development, including emotional well-being, cognitive functions, behavioral patterns, and physical health [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. Research indicates that most adolescents experience depressive symptoms when faced with stressful events or unpleasant situations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. Adolescence is a critical period of emotional, social, and cognitive development, during which individuals are particularly susceptible to external stressors [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. For adolescents, cyberbullying represents a severe and enduring stressor [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. When confronted by cyberbullying events, adolescents may experience significant psychological stress, lose control over the external environment, leading to a negative emotional perception, which increases their risk of developing depression [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. Gamez-Guadix et al.\u0026rsquo;s research shows that cyberbullying victimization can cause significant psychological stress among European adolescents, leading to emotional states like tension and distress that can evolve into depressive symptoms [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e]. Chamizo et al.\u0026rsquo;s research revealed that adolescents who experienced higher levels of cyberbullying were more likely to exhibit stronger depressive symptoms [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e]. Those studies suggest that cyberbullying victimization is a risk factor for depressive symptoms in adolescents. Thus, the main objective of this study was to examine the potential mechanisms between cyberbullying victimization and depression.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eThe mediating role of coping strategies\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eCoping strategies are defined as specific behaviors and psychological efforts that individuals use to manage, reduce, minimize, or tolerate stressful events [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]. According to the Stress and Coping theory [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e], when faced with a stressor, an individual undergoes two cognitive appraisal processes that adjust the relationship between the stressor and its consequences. In the primary cognitive appraisal, an individual evaluates the current situation for potential threats and challenges. If the situation is perceived as dangerous or requiring a response, stress emerges. Subsequently, in the secondary appraisal, the individual assesses their ability and resources to cope with the stressor. Based on this assessment, they select an appropriate coping strategy to confront the stressor and reduce its negative impact [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. Roth [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e] categorizes coping strategies into two types: approach coping and avoidance coping. Approach coping strategies aim to tackle the source of stress directly, such as by seeking help or solving problems. In contrast, avoidance coping strategies focus on managing the emotional response to stress, such as through avoidance or venting.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCyberbullying often triggers strong negative emotional responses in victims, leading to lower self-esteem, and an increased sense of loneliness [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e], which may drive victims to adopt avoidance strategies as a means of escaping distressing situations. In other words, victims of cyberbullying are more likely to use avoidance tactics to prevent further conflict and deterioration of interpersonal relationships. Indeed, one study found that adolescents who experience cyberbullying are more inclined to choose avoidance strategies over approach strategies [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e]. On the other hand, while avoidance strategies may temporarily alleviate the stress and anxiety experienced by victims, they fail to address the root causes of bullying and, over time, may contribute to the development of internalizing problems [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e]. Research has also shown that adolescents who rely on avoidance coping strategies are at a higher risk of developing depression [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e]. Therefore, we expect that coping strategies mediate the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and adolescent depression.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe moderating role of face consciousness\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFace consciousness is considered a personal trait that involves both the desire to maintain one\u0026rsquo;s reputation and the concern over damaging it, which the latter is commonly referred to as the fear of losing face [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e]. In recent years, many scholars have explored the relationship between face consciousness and individuals\u0026rsquo; internal emotional experiences and external behaviors. An empirical study found a positive correlation between cortisol levels (a physiological indicator of stress response) and face consciousness, suggesting that individuals with higher face consciousness may exhibit heightened responsiveness to stressors [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e]. Meanwhile, some scholars have found a correlation between an individual's face consciousness and negative emotional experiences under stress. For example, in competitive work environments, new employees with high levels of face consciousness often exhibit more severe emotional issues, such as social anxiety [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e]. Therefore, when involved in cyberbullying, victims with high face consciousness may perceive greater stress and experience more negative emotions, thereby increasing the risk of developing depression among adolescents.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFace negotiation theory suggests that an individual's behavior in stressful situations is influenced by their awareness of their own face [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e]. As face consciousness increases, so does the perceived risk of losing face, leading individuals to take steps to safeguard their reputation and image. For example, in competitive work environments, avoid expressing ideas to protect their face [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e]. Similarly, in business negotiations, those with high face consciousness may cancel negotiations or proceed cautiously to prevent losing face [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e]. Thus, in cyberbullying situations, individuals with high face consciousness are more likely to adopt negative, avoidance coping strategies to protect their face from harm. Moreover, according to the stress and coping theory [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e], personality traits not only influence the choice of coping strategies but also affect mental health outcomes after these strategies are used. For instance, in the context of cyberbullying, self-esteem moderates the link between coping strategies and depression, with high self-esteem acting as a buffer, reducing the harmful effects of negative coping on depression [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e]. Face consciousness reflects an individual\u0026rsquo;s concern with how others evaluate them, and is closely linked to self-esteem [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e]. It is plausible that face consciousness also moderated the relationship between coping strategies and depression. Therefore, we expect that face consciousness may play a moderating role in the mediation process between cyberbullying victimization, coping strategies, and their impact on depression.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCurrent research\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn summary, to further elucidate the formation and developmental mechanisms underlying depression among middle school students suffering cyberbullying victimization, a multifactorial integration perspective is required to concurrently investigate the mediating and moderating mechanisms of cyberbullying victimization, coping strategies, and face consciousness. Based on stress and coping theory and face negotiation theory, our study proposes a moderated mediation model (see Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The following hypotheses are proposed: H1: Cyberbullying victimization significantly and positively predicts adolescent depression. H2: The association between cyberbullying victimization and adolescent depression is mediated by coping strategies. H2a: Cyberbullying victimization significantly negatively predicts coping strategies. H2b: Coping strategies significantly negatively predict adolescent depression. H3: Face consciousness moderates both the direct and indirect pathways between cyberbullying victimization and adolescent depression. Specifically, the direct and indirect relations between cyberbullying perpetration and depression would be much stronger for young adults with higher levels of face consciousness. H3a: Face consciousness moderates the direct pathway between cyberbullying and depression. H3b: Face consciousness moderates the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and coping strategies. H3c: Face consciousness moderates the relationship between coping strategies and depression.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eParticipants\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAccording to Kline [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e], a representative sample requires large-scale sampling methods, with a sample size exceeding 20 times the number of items. Given that this study includes 77 items, a minimum sample size of 1,540 is needed. The study was conducted in November and December 2023 in cities in northwestern China. Initially, 1,692 participants were recruited. After excluding those who did not respond seriously or failed to complete the required number of questions, 1,586 participants (93.81%) were included in the final data analysis. This sample size aligns with the requirements for large-scale surveys. The participants included 804 males (50.69%) and 782 females (49.31%), aged 12 to 16 years (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;13.76, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.03). Among them, 1,364 were non-only children (86.00%), and 222 were only children (14.00%). Overall, the findings indicated that a significant majority (69.42%) of adolescents had experienced cyberbullying (CV score\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;2).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eMeasures\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCyberbullying Victimization Scale\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Cyberbullying Victimization Scale (CBI) was used to evaluate adolescents\u0026rsquo; experiences of cyberbullying victimization over the past year [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e]. The CBI consists of 18 different cyberbullying victimization activities. A score of more than 2 points on any single item indicates a recent experience of cyberbullying victimization. The CBI uses a 4-point scale, where 1 represents \u0026ldquo;0 times\u0026rdquo; and 4 represents \u0026ldquo;more than 5 times,\u0026rdquo; with higher scores indicating more severe instances of cyberbullying. The reliability and validity of the CBI have been well-established among Chinese adolescents [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e], and in this study, the scale showed strong reliability (Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.90).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFace Consciousness Scale\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Face Consciousness Scale was used to assess the level of face consciousness among adolescents [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e]. The scale includes 11 items, each rated on a 7-point Likert scale, where 1 represents \u0026ldquo;not at all consistent\u0026rdquo; and 7 represents \u0026ldquo;fully consistent.\u0026rdquo; Higher scores reflect a stronger inclination to value and protect one's public image in daily life. The scale has proven to be a reliable tool in Chinese test groups [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e42\u003c/span\u003e], and in this study, it also demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.82).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCoping Strategies Scale\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Coping Strategy Scale was used to evaluate the coping strategies adolescents might use when facing cyberbullying [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e]. The scale consists of 28 items that measure both approach and avoidance coping strategies, rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 means \u0026ldquo;never\u0026rdquo; and 5 means \u0026ldquo;always.\u0026rdquo; The scoring is calculated by subtracting the average score of avoidance strategies from the average score of approach strategies. A positive total score indicates a tendency to use approach strategies, while a negative total score suggests a preference for avoidance strategies. In this study, the scale showed good reliability (Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.80).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eDepression Scale\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is employed to assess depressive symptoms in adolescents over the past week [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e]. The CES-D consists of 20 items rated on a 4-point scale, where 0 represents \u0026ldquo;not at all\u0026rdquo; and 3 represents \u0026ldquo;most of the time.\u0026rdquo; Higher scores reflect more severe depressive symptoms in adolescents. The reliability of the CES-D has been confirmed in Chinese adolescents [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e45\u003c/span\u003e], and in this study, it also showed good reliability (Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.90).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eData analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll data were processed and analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 4.2 software packages. First, statistical analyses were conducted on the common method bias and the prevalence of cyberbullying. Second, descriptive analysis was performed to examine correlations between the variables. Third, following the approach of previous studies, this study tests the mediating effect of coping strategies and the moderating effect of face consciousness in two steps. Considering the impact of gender and age on depression and cyberbullying, these factors were included as control variables during data analysis in this study, enhancing the accuracy of hypothesis testing.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCommon method bias\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAlthough this study followed strictly standardized measurement procedures and participants completed the questionnaire anonymously, there is still a potential for common method bias due to the use of self-reported data. To address this, the Harman one-factor test was used to detect common method bias [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e46\u003c/span\u003e]. The results revealed 16 factors with eigenvalues greater than 1, with the first factor explaining only 15.95% of the total variance, which is below the critical threshold of 40%. This suggests that significant common method bias is not present in the data.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eDescriptive statistics and correlation analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e displays the descriptive statistics and correlations among the study variables and the demographic variables. The results showed significant positive correlations between cyberbullying victimization, face consciousness and depression symptoms, and cyberbullying victimization was significantly negatively correlated with coping strategies. Face consciousness was significantly negatively correlated with depression symptoms, and was significantly positively correlated with depression symptoms. In addition, gender, and age were significantly correlated with cyberbullying victimization, coping strategies, depression symptoms or face consciousness. To avoid the possible influence of demographic variables, gender and age will be controlled as covariates in the subsequent statistical analysis.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescriptive and correlation analysis of variables in this study (\u003cem\u003eN\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1586, M\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"9\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1. Gender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2. Age\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.59\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3. CV\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.06\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4. FC\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.56\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.05\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.27\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5. CT\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.06\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.26\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.33\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6. CESD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.13\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.65\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.36\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.30\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.37\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"9\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNotes.\u003c/b\u003e \u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, \u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01, \u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001; CV\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Cyberbullying Victimization: FC\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Face Consciousness; CT\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Coping Strategies; CESD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; the same as below.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eMediation analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe mediating effect of coping strategies on the association between cyberbullying victimization and cyberbullying victimization was tested using Model 4 in Hayes\u0026rsquo; (2013) PROCESS program. Cyberbullying victimization as an independent variable, coping strategies as a mediating variable, and depression symptoms as a dependent variable, were included in the model. After controlling for gender and age, results showed that cyberbullying victimization significantly predicted depression symptoms (\u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.36, \u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.02, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and coping strategies (\u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e = -0.26, \u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.03, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), and those coping strategies significantly predicted depression symptoms (\u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e = -0.27, \u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.02, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). The significance of the mediating effect was determined by the Bootstrap method, which showed a mediating effect value of 0.07 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.06\u0026ndash;0.09. As this did not contain 0, a significant mediating effect of coping strategies could be assumed. This effect accounted for 19.44% of the total effect (0.36) (see Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMediating model test of coping strategies\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegression equation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOverall fit index\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSignificance of regression coefficients\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOutcome variable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePredictor variable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eR\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eR\u003c/em\u003e\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e95%CI\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCESD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100.14\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[0.20, 0.38]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.52\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.098, -0.013]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-2.57\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCVS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[0.32, 0.40]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.17\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCTS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.51\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.26, -0.07]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-3.31\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.08, 0.01]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-1.40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCVS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.31, -0.22]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-10.76\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCESD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e122.16\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[0.16, 0.33]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.78\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.11, -0.02]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-3.13\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCVS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[0.25, 0.33]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.08\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCTS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.32, -0.23]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-12.58\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eModerated mediation model analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eModel 59 in the PROCESS program was used to test a moderated mediation model with face consciousness as a possible moderator by controlling gender and age. Results showed that, the product term of coping strategies and face consciousness was significant in the prediction of depression symptoms (\u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e = -0.09, \u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.02, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), suggesting that face consciousness moderated the association between coping strategies and depression symptoms. However, the product term of cyberbullying victimization and face consciousness was not significant in the prediction of coping strategies (\u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e = -0.01, \u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.02, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.70), and depression symptoms (\u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e = -0.04, \u003cem\u003eSE\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.02, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.09), suggesting that face consciousness not moderated the association between cyberbullying victimization and coping strategies, and between cyberbullying victimization and depression symptoms (See Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e and Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eModerated mediation model test\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegression equation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOverall fit index\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSignificance of regression coefficients\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOutcome variable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePredictor variable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eR\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eR\u003c/em\u003e\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eF\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e95%CI\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCTS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54.13\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.24, -0.05]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-3.08\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.091, -0.002]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-2.04\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCVS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.23, -0.13]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-6.56\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFCS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.33, -0.23]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-11.64\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCVS\u0026times;FCS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.06, 0.04]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCESD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80.23\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[0.22, 0.32]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.80\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"5\" rowspan=\"6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.26, -0.07]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-2.69\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCVS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[0.22, 0.32]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.95\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCTS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.28, -0.19]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-10.63\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCVS\u0026times;FCS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.09, 0.01]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-1.71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFCS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[0.08, 0.17]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.42\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCTS\u0026times;FCS\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e[-0.13, -0.05]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-4.61\u003csup\u003e***\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo clarify the moderating effect of face consciousness on the relationship between coping strategies and depression symptoms, a simple slopes analysis was conducted based on high and low groupings (plus and minus one standard deviation) of face consciousness. Results showed that in those with high face consciousness, coping strategies were more predictive of depression symptoms (\u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.-0.32, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), with 95% confidence intervals of -0.38 ~ -0.27. In contrast, for individuals with low face consciousness, coping strategies were less predictive of depression symptoms (\u003cem\u003eβ\u003c/em\u003e = -0.15, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), with a 95% confidence interval of -0.20 ~ -0.09 (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study developed a moderated mediation model grounded in stress and coping theory, along with face negotiation theory, to examine the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and depression. Coping strategies were tested as the mediating variable, while face consciousness was explored as a moderating factor. Our findings revealed that cybervictimization significantly and positively predicted depressive symptoms through the mediation of coping strategies. Additionally, face consciousness moderated the relationship between coping strategies and depression. These results offer valuable insights into the complex psychological mechanisms linking cyberbullying to mental health outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec20\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eThe mediating role of coping strategies\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results of this study indicate that a significant positive correlation between cyberbullying victimization and depression among adolescents, suggesting that cyberbullying victimization, as a stressor, can trigger intense depressive emotions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e47\u003c/span\u003e]. Moreover, we found that coping strategies mediated the link between the cyberbullying victimization and depressive symptoms in adolescents. Previous research has examined the effects of approach and avoidance coping strategies on the relationship between cyberbullying and depression, but typically considering their impacts in isolation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e]. However, individuals often employ multiple coping strategies simultaneously when responding to stress. This means that choosing an avoidance strategy does not necessarily preclude the use of an approach strategy, and vice versa [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. In this study, we viewed coping strategies as a continuum and examined the role of the global coping strategy tendencies, where adolescents\u0026rsquo; coping tendencies were measured by subtracting avoidant strategy scores from approach strategy scores. A negative score indicated a preference for avoidant strategies, while a positive score suggested a tendency toward approach strategies in the context of cyberbullying. Therefore, we provided a more comprehensive perspective on adolescents\u0026rsquo; behavioral responses to cyberbullying by considering the simultaneous use of multiple coping strategies, rather than examining them in isolation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the first half of the mediation model, our study found that cyberbullying victimization significantly and negatively predicted coping strategies, consistent with previous research [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e]. The tension and anxiety from cyberbullying events, may drive adolescents to adopt more negative coping. Moreover, in the second half of the mediation model, our study found that coping strategies significantly and negatively predicted adolescent depression, suggesting that negative coping increases adolescent depression levels [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e]. One possible explanation is that negative coping offers only a short-term and superficial relief from adolescents\u0026rsquo; emotional distress, such as anxiety and tension [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. While this may offer temporary comfort, it ultimately fails to address the persistent harm causes of cyberbullying. When adolescents experience severe cyberbullying, negative coping can prove ineffective, potentially deepening their feelings of helplessness and hopelessness [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e], which may lead to serious mental health problems. Therefore, our results reveal a potential mechanism whereby cyberbullying victimization enhances middle school students\u0026rsquo; tendency to negative coping, subsequently amplifying the impact of stressful events and ultimately contributing to the emergence of depression.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec21\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eThe moderating role of face consciousness\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study found that face consciousness did not significantly moderate the impact of cyberbullying on coping strategies and depression. One possible explanation for this finding is that cyberbullying may exert a powerful and direct negative influence on individuals\u0026rsquo; psychological well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e], overshadowing the moderating role of face consciousness. Even when individuals possess strong face consciousness, the intense negative experiences associated with cyberbullying may overwhelm its moderating effects, rendering it ineffective. In other words, the direct impact of cyberbullying may far exceed the indirect moderating influence of face consciousness. Additionally, the anonymity inherent in online environments allows individuals to conceal their true identities, thereby reducing social pressure from others [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. Consequently, when faced with cyberbullying, individuals may not experience a significant sense of face loss, which could diminish the moderating role of face consciousness.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotably, we found that face consciousness moderated the impact of coping strategies on depression. Specifically, high face consciousness may amplify the impact of negative coping strategies on psychological and mental stress among cybervictimization adolescents, ultimately increasing the occurrence of depression. According to Goffman\u0026rsquo;s point of face [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e50\u003c/span\u003e] and previous research [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e], face consciousness refers to an individual's sensitivity to negative comments from others, and that high face consciousness is related to humiliation and lower happiness. So, once adolescents choose negative coping strategies to deal with cyberbullying, face consciousness may cause humiliation and low happiness in victims, and the accumulation of negative emotions may ultimately increase the risk of depression. Thus, our findings provide some evidence of the potential risky role of face consciousness on psychological health in adolescents suffering cybervictimization.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec22\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eLimitations and future research directions\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur research has several limitations. First, the generalizability of the findings is limited since the study focused solely on adolescents. Future studies should expand to include different age groups and populations, including various occupational groups engaged in Internet-related activities. Second, from a cross-cultural perspective, face consciousness is more prominent among Chinese individuals, who place greater importance on social image and seek external validation compared to Western individuals [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e]. Since this study included only adolescents from Northwest China, we could not examine face consciousness across cultures or determine its role outside of China. Future research should explore these cross-cultural dimensions to assess whether face consciousness acts as a related factor in cyberbullying in different cultural contexts. Third, while this study identified the moderating role of face consciousness, it was limited to the relationship between coping strategies and adolescent depression. Future studies should explore other mental health issues, such as anxiety and self-harm, thereby may providing deeper insights into the complex relationship between face consciousness and adolescent mental health.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eOverall, this study examined the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and adolescent depression, focusing on the mediating role of coping strategies and the moderating effect of face consciousness in this process. The results indicated a positive relationship between cyberbullying victimization and adolescent depression, with coping strategies mediating this relationship. In addition, face consciousness moderated the mediating effect of coping strategies on the relationship between cyberbullying and adolescent depression. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms by which cyberbullying victimization leads to depressive symptoms in adolescents and aid in identifying effective interventions to reduce the risk of adolescent depression.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe research was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and received approval from the Institutional Review Board at the department of applied psychology, school of humanities and social sciences, Fuzhou University. All participants carefully read and signed the informed consent form before beginning their participation in this study. The form included information about the study\u0026apos;s general content, data protection, privacy measures, and the right to withdraw at any time.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData from this study have been uploaded to the Open Science Framework, and open access links will be provided upon acceptance of the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work was supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China (19BSH087).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026rsquo; contribution\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eS.H.: resources, conceptualization and methodology, validation, visualization, writing\u0026mdash;original draft, writing\u0026mdash;review and editing;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eL.Z.: conceptualization and methodology, validation, resources, data curation, project administration, writing\u0026mdash;review and editing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgement\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors wish to thank each participant who took part in this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026apos; information\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSong Han: Graduate student. Department of Applied Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Fuzhou University.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLingbo Zhao: Professor and Head, Department of Applied Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Fuzhou University.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKowalski, R.M., et al., \u003cem\u003eBullying in the digital age: A critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth.\u003c/em\u003e Psychological Bulletin, 2014. \u003cstrong\u003e140\u003c/strong\u003e(4): p. 1073-1137. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0035618\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTokunaga, R.S., \u003cem\u003eFollowing you home from school: A critical review and synthesis of research on cyberbullying victimization.\u003c/em\u003e Computers in Human Behavior, 2010. \u003cstrong\u003e26\u003c/strong\u003e(3): p. 277-287. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2009.11.014\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaskauskas, J. and A. 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Tian, and N. Grigoriou, \u003cem\u003eGain face, but lose happiness? It depends on how much money you have.\u003c/em\u003e Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 2011. \u003cstrong\u003e14\u003c/strong\u003e(2): p. 112-125. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-839X.2010.01336.x\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-psychology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"psyo","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Psychology](http://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"BMC Psychology","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Cyberbullying Victimization, Depression symptom, Coping strategies, Face consciousness, Adolescent","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5185708/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5185708/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe more rapid adoption of the Internet in education settings has raised concerns about its impact on adolescents who may suffer from cyberbullying victimization. As a negative life experience, cyberbullying victimization can adversely affect adolescents\u0026rsquo; mental health. Particularly, it can lead to more adolescents developing depression. Based on this, we developed and tested a moderated mediation model to examine whether coping strategies mediate the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and depression, and whether this mediating process was moderated by face consciousness.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethod\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study used a cross-sectional survey design with a sample of 1,586 middle school students from northwestern China, including 782 females (mean age 13.76\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.03 years; age range 12\u0026ndash;16). Participants completed an anonymous paper-and-pencil survey that assessed their experiences with cyberbullying victimization, coping strategies, face consciousness, and depressive symptoms.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResult\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe findings revealed that cyberbullying victimization (Beta\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.36, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;16.17, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) significantly predicted level of depression in adolescents. Coping strategies (Effect\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.19, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) partially mediated this relationship. Additionally, face consciousness (Beta = -0.09, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e = -4.61, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) moderated the mediation: as face consciousness increased, the impact of coping strategies on depression became stronger.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese findings provide valuable insights into how and when cyberbullying affects adolescent depression, offering potential guidance for prevention and intervention strategies aimed at reducing the impact of cyberbullying on depressive symptoms in this vulnerable population.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Relationship Between Cyberbullying Victimization and Depression in Middle School Students: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies and the Moderating Role of Face Consciousness","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-12-03 23:37:39","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5185708/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2024-10-03T10:57:33+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-10-02T07:07:46+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2024-10-02T07:06:44+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Psychology","date":"2024-10-01T08:25:26+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-psychology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"psyo","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Psychology](http://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"BMC Psychology","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"c9ba9892-a6e8-41f1-9630-47de8b599cd8","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 3rd, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-12-30T16:00:22+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-5185708","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02320-5","journal":{"identity":"bmc-psychology","isVorOnly":false,"title":"BMC Psychology"},"publishedOn":"2024-12-26 15:57:17","publishedOnDateReadable":"December 26th, 2024"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-12-03 23:37:39","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s40359-024-02320-5","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02320-5","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5185708","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5185708","identity":"rs-5185708","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}