Cyberbullying among male adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: prevalence, correlates, and association with poor mental health status.
Cyberbullying hits one in five male Taiwanese teens with ADHD and lifts depression and suicide risk, but steady medication and daily exercise can push that risk back down.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked male teens with ADHD in Taiwan about cyberbullying. They used a one-time survey. Kids marked if they had been bullied online, bullied others, or both. They also answered questions about mood and suicidal thoughts.
What they found
One in five boys said they had been cyber-bullied. About one in seven admitted they had bullied someone online. Victims scored higher on depression and suicidal thoughts than non-victims.
How this fits with other research
Liang et al. (2018) extend these results. They show that keeping ADHD boys on methylphenidate for 90 days cuts suicide-attempt risk by about two-thirds. The same group that feels worse after cyberbullying can be protected by steady medication.
Liu et al. (2025) add another shield. Their work shows that brief daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity lowers suicidal thoughts in ADHD teens. Victimization raises risk, but exercise and medication each push it back down.
Chen et al. (2015) look at a related screen problem. They find that high ADHD symptoms plus low family support raise Internet-addiction risk. Cyberbullying and Internet addiction overlap; both point to vulnerable kids who live much of their life online.
Why it matters
You now have three levers for boys who report cyberbullying: check if they take medication regularly, add short bouts of brisk activity, and bring parents in to strengthen home support. One quick survey item about online bullying can flag a teen who needs all three protections.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence rates and multilevel correlates of cyberbullying victims and perpetrators among male adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Taiwan. The relationships between cyberbullying involvement and depression, anxiety, and suicidality were also examined. The experiences of cyberbullying victimization and perpetration in 251 male adolescents with ADHD were assessed. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the correlates of cyberbullying victims and perpetrators. The relationships between cyberbullying involvement and depression, anxiety, and suicidality were examined using multiple regression analysis. A total of 48 (19.1%) and 36 (14.3%) participants reported that they were cyberbullying victims or perpetrators, respectively. Those who had increased age and a higher parental occupational socioeconomic status, and reported more severe traditional passive bullying victimization were more likely to be cyberbullying victims. Those who had increased age and combined-type ADHD, and reported lower BAS reward responsiveness, more severe Internet addiction and more severe traditional passive bullying perpetration were more likely to be cyberbullying perpetrators. Cyberbullying victims reported more severe depression and suicidality than those who were not cyberbullying victims. A high proportion of male adolescents with ADHD are involved in cyberbullying. Clinicians, educational professionals, and parents of adolescents should monitor the possibility of cyberbullying involvement among male adolescents with ADHD who exhibit the cyberbullying correlates identified in this study.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2014 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.08.035