Cybervictimization and emotional symptoms in adolescents: mediating role of psychological flexibility versus inflexibility

Background Cyberbullying significantly affects adolescents, increasing the risk of negative emotional symptoms. This study explores how psychological flexibility and inflexibility may mediate this relationship, focusing on adolescent mental health in the context of cyberbullying.Methods A sample of 2,171 secondary school students, aged 11-18 years, was used to assess cyberbullying, emotional symptoms, and levels of psychological flexibility and inflexibility.Results Cybervictimization showed a direct relationship with emotional symptoms and psychological inflexibility. Psychological flexibility was negatively associated with cybervictimization and positively associated with mental health, acting as a protective mediator against the association of cyberbullying.Conclusion Psychological flexibility emerges as a key factor in reducing the negative association of cybervictimization in adolescents. These findings highlight the importance of developing strategies to improve psychological flexibility in young people as a means to strengthen their resilience in the face of cyberbullying and its emotional consequences.