The mediating effect of cyber victimization and cyberbullying on the relationship between social media addiction and emotional and psychological well-being in adolescents.

Social media addiction was negatively associated with emotional and psychological well-being in adolescents.

• Data collected from 1,626 middle school students in Türkiye during the 2024-2025 academic year
• Cross-sectional design with correlation and mediation analyses used to test direct and indirect effects
• Scales measuring social media addiction, well-being, and cyberbullying experiences were used
• The negative association was identified through correlation analyses

Social media addiction was positively associated with both cyber victimization and cyberbullying.

• Correlation analyses indicated positive associations between social media addiction and both cyber victimization and cyberbullying
• Sample consisted of 1,626 middle school students
• Both cyber victimization and cyberbullying were examined as distinct constructs related to social media addiction

Cyber victimization and cyberbullying acted as significant independent mediators of the relationship between social media addiction and emotional and psychological well-being.

• Mediation analyses used PROCESS macro, Model 6
• Both cyber victimization and cyberbullying were found to be significant independent mediators
• Excessive social media use not only directly reduces well-being but also contributes to harmful online interactions that exacerbate the adverse effects
• Model 6 in PROCESS macro tests sequential as well as independent mediation pathways

Cyber victimization and cyberbullying acted as significant sequential mediators of the relationship between social media addiction and emotional and psychological well-being.

• PROCESS macro Model 6 was specifically employed to test sequential mediation
• The sequential mediation pathway suggests social media addiction contributes to cyber victimization, which in turn contributes to cyberbullying, ultimately reducing well-being
• This sequential mediation was identified in addition to the independent mediation effects of each variable

The study found a direct negative relationship between social media addiction and adolescent well-being independent of cyberbullying and cyber victimization.

• Direct effects were tested alongside indirect effects in the mediation model
• Excessive social media use directly reduces well-being as well as through the mediating pathways
• Both direct and indirect pathways were examined using PROCESS macro, Model 6