Analysis of 438 Italian adolescents reveals that peer loneliness significantly predicts both cyberbullying victimization and problematic gaming behaviors, with cyberbullying serving as a key mediator between loneliness and diminished well-being. The structural equation modeling demonstrated these interconnected pathways affect psychological health across both sexes equally, with 10.5% of participants reporting cyberbullying experiences.
This research illuminates a concerning cascade where socially isolated adolescents become trapped in self-reinforcing cycles of digital vulnerability. Unlike previous studies that examined these phenomena separately, this work establishes loneliness as the upstream driver that makes teens susceptible to both online victimization and escapist gaming patterns. The findings suggest that traditional anti-bullying interventions may be insufficient without addressing the underlying peer relationship deficits that create initial vulnerability. For parents and educators, this highlights the critical importance of fostering genuine peer connections rather than simply monitoring screen time or online activities. The research also challenges the assumption that problematic gaming directly leads to social isolation—instead suggesting that existing loneliness drives both gaming excess and cyberbullying susceptibility, requiring more nuanced therapeutic approaches that prioritize social skill development and peer relationship quality.
