Cyberbullying types and contexts predicting self-harm and suicidal ideation among Korean adolescents

Background

Cyberbullying victimization and suicide among children and adolescents are ongoing public health concerns. While cyberbullying is a global phenomenon, evidence on which specific types and contexts elevate suicide risk remains limited. This study examined how specific types and contexts of cyberbullying victimization are differentially associated with self-harm and suicidal ideation among Korean children and adolescents.

Methods

This cross-sectional study analyzed 1,630 children and adolescents reporting cyberbullying victimization from the 2025 Korean National Cyberbullying Survey (N = 9,296). Self-harm and suicidal ideation was measured using a single 4-point ordinal item. Hierarchical ordinal logistic regression first entered eight cyberbullying types, then added victim-perpetrator relationship and duration. Covariates included sex, school level, academic performance, household economic status, family support, and peer support.

Results

Among victims, 9.6% endorsed self-harm and suicidal ideation. Each block significantly improved model fit (LRT p < .001; final Nagelkerke R² = .180). Among the eight types, coercion (OR = 2.24, 95% CI 1.45–3.48) and defamation (OR = 1.39, CI 1.07–1.80) were significantly associated with self-harm and suicidal ideation, whereas verbal abuse, the most prevalent (83.6%), was not. Persistent victimization (OR = 2.79, CI 2.13–3.64) and known-person perpetration (OR = 1.42, CI 1.10–1.83) were both significant contextual predictors.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the type and context of cyberbullying victimization, rather than its mere occurrence, are key predictors of self-harm and suicidal ideation among children and adolescents. Practitioners should assess not only what type of victimization occurred but also whether it was persistent and perpetrated by known individuals, and tailor interventions accordingly.

Key messages

• Coercion, defamation, persistent victimization, and known perpetrators predict cyberbullying-related suicide risk among Korean children and adolescents.

• Practitioners should assess not only what type of victimization occurred but also whether it was persistent and perpetrated by known individuals.