Pathways From Cyber Victimization to Adolescent Depression: A Latent Profile and Bridge Network Analysis

Abstract

Cyber victimization is among the most consistent predictors of depression (DEP) in adolescence, yet research has largely treated both constructs as unidimensional totals, obscuring which specific victimization experiences activate which depressive symptoms and for whom. This study applied a person-centered and network psychometric approach to map these pathways in a cross-sectional community sample of 622 Turkish adolescents (55.0% female; M-age = 13.90 years). Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified three distinct subgroups based on self-esteem (SE), family affluence, and social media (SM) use: a low SE/moderate SM group (n = 395, 63.5%), a high SE/high DEP group (n = 115, 18.5%), and a high SM use group (n = 112, 18.0%). Depressive symptom networks differed significantly in global strength across profiles; the high SM use group showed the densest intersymptom connections. A bipartite bridge network analysis revealed that self-harm/suicidal ideation was the strongest cross-community bridge node (bridge expected influence = 0.143), despite being the most peripheral symptom within the DEP network itself. This dissociation suggests that the symptom is linked mainly to cyber victimization rather than to other depressive symptoms. Embarrassing messages was the strongest victimization-side bridge node (EI = 0.095). These findings challenge the assumption that intranetwork centrality predicts intervention priority: Peripheral symptoms may function as critical entry points when external stressors drive activation.