How Digital Literacy and Family Communication Shape Adult Coping with Cyberbullying: A Network Analysis

• In Event: Families and postsecondary students: Relationships and engagement

Abstract

This study investigates how family dynamics and digital literacy influence cyberbullying coping strategies among 1,042 Chinese parents (58.2% female; Mage=35.02). Through network analysis (R’s qgraph package), we find that problematic technology use (EI=1.24) and parent-child communication (EI=1.18) serve as central factors determining coping effectiveness, with notable gender differences in partner phubbing’s impact. Results reveal digital literacy (r=0.09) and social support (r=0.06) as significant positive correlates of adaptive coping, while family victimization showed negative associations in female networks (r=-0.12). The findings challenge the traditional youth-centric paradigm of cyberbullying research, demonstrating the need for family-oriented interventions that address parental digital behaviors and household dynamics. This research provides educators with evidence-based insights to bridge home-school efforts in combating cyberbullying’s mental health impacts.

Author

• Qiqi Chen, Hong Kong Polytechnic University