Cyberbullying Victimization's mental health toll on youth in Poland and Hungary: Role of cyber-bystanders and loneliness

Cyberbullying has emerged as a significant problem affecting youth mental health in Eastern Europe. Building on the conservation of resource theory, this research examined the psychological distress (depression and suicide intention) experienced by cyberbullying victims in the presence of cyber-bystanders. Data were collected using an online questionnaire from individuals (n = 459) living in Poland and Hungary. The descriptive data analysis was conducted using SPSS and structural equation modeling using PLS SMART software. The study results indicated that Eastern European youth suffer from depression and suicidal intent as a result of cyberbullying victimization. The results suggest that cyberbullying significantly predicts both depression and suicidal intention. Additionally, loneliness was found to mediate the effect of cyberbullying on depression and suicidal intentions. While bystander non-intervention amplified loneliness and, subsequently, depression and suicidal intention. The cyber-bystander intervention did not sequentially mediate the relationship between cyberbullying and suicidal intention, as well as depression, through loneliness. Future initiatives must prioritize the enhancement of social support systems and the mitigation of loneliness to avert enduring mental health repercussions.