Effect of Parental Attachment on Cyberbullying Experience: Moderated Mediation Effect of Cyber Confidence through Self-Control

The rapid development of internet technology and the widespread use of smartphones have significantly transformed adolescents' daily lives and the way they form and maintain social relationships. As the most active and skilled users of digital media, adolescents are particularly vulnerable to negative consequences such as internet addiction and cyberbullying. Cyberbullying, unlike traditional offline violence, occurs in anonymous and non-face-to-face settings, which enables repetitive victimization and delayed detection. Recent trends indicate a shift in school violence from physical aggression to psychological and verbal abuse conducted through social media and messaging applications, highlighting the need for deeper understanding and preventive strategies. This study focuses on parental attachment, self-control, and cyber confidence as key factors influencing adolescents' experiences of cyberbullying. Drawing upon self-control theory and social bond theory, the study examines whether self-control mediates the relationship between parental attachment and cyberbullying experience, and whether this mediating effect is moderated by levels of cyber confidence. The analysis is based on secondary data from the 2015 Youth Cyber Violence Survey conducted by the Korea Institute of Criminal Justice Policy. Hayes' Process Macro (Models 4, 1, and 14) was employed to verify the mediation and moderated mediation effects. The findings reveal that stronger parental attachment positively influences adolescents' self-control, which in turn reduces the likelihood of cyberbullying. Parental attachment also directly decreases cyberbullying experience. Notably, cyber confidence moderates the mediating effect of self-control; the indirect effect of parental attachment on cyberbullying via self-control is more pronounced among adolescents with lower levels of cyber confidence. These results offer practical implications for preventing adolescent cyberbullying. Strengthening parental attachment from early childhood is essential for fostering self-control and reducing delinquent behavior. Regular assessment of self-control and the development of intervention programs targeting low self-control adolescents are also recommended. Furthermore, policy and educational efforts should aim to address the structural characteristics of cyberspace-such as anonymity and lack of face-to-face interaction-that may facilitate impulsive and harmful online behavior. These combined efforts can contribute to a more comprehensive strategy to mitigate cyberbullying among youth.