بررسی رابطه علّی قربانی شدن سایبری بر اساس احساس تنهایی با میانجی‌گری اعتیاد به اینترنت در دانش‌آموزان پسر دوره متوسطه دوم مناطق ۴ و ۷ تهران

مریم  هاشمی; علی حیدری; ساسان  باوی; حمدالله  جایروند

Authors

Maryam Hashemi Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3023-250X
Ali Heidary Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1392-7652
Sasan Bavi Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8929-4719
Hamdollah Jayervand Department of Psychology, Il.C., Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0478-8822

Keywords:

Cyber Victimization, Loneliness, Internet Addiction

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the causal relationship between loneliness and cyber victimization, with internet addiction acting as a mediating variable.

Methodology: A descriptive–correlational design using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied. The statistical population included all male high school students in districts 4 and 7 of Tehran during the 2023–2024 academic year. A sample of 341 students was selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Cyberbullying–Victimization Experiences Questionnaire (Antiadou et al., 2016), the Short-Form Loneliness Scale (DiTommaso et al., 2004), and Young’s Internet Addiction Test (1996). Descriptive statistics and SEM were employed for data analysis.

Findings: Loneliness had a significant and positive direct effect on cyber victimization (β = 0.52, p < 0.001). Loneliness also showed a significant indirect effect on cyber victimization through internet addiction (β = 0.12, p = 0.022). Fit indices including RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.96, and GFI = 0.96 confirmed good model fit.

Conclusion: The findings highlight that loneliness strongly increases the risk of cyber victimization, and internet addiction intensifies this association. Addressing loneliness and preventing excessive internet use may reduce the likelihood of cyber victimization. These results underscore the importance of designing school-based psychosocial interventions to promote emotional well-being and online safety in adolescents.

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