Impact of Parental Social Media Mediation on Cyberbullying among Adolescents: The Role of Religious Orientation and Ethical Values

Abstract

This study investigates parental social mediation strategies (restrictive, Active) and their relationship with direct cyberbullying among adolescents, while also considering the moderating effects of community ethical value and intrinsic religious orientation. A cross-sectional study using a purposive sampling strategy examined 276 individuals from Sargodha, Mianwali, and Lahore in Pakistan's Punjab province. Participants were adolescents aged 13 to 18, during which many still determine their identities and societal responsibilities (Orenstein & Lewis, 2022). Four instruments were employed: one to assess intrinsic religious orientation, another to measure community ethical values, and a third to examine parental strategies for mediating social media use, encompassing both active and restrictive approaches. Findings indicate that an Active parental mediation strategy on social media significantly decreased occurrences of direct cyberbullying; on the other hand, restrictive mediation shows a negative correlation with direct cyberbullying. The community (ethical value) and intrinsic religious orientation mediate the relationship between parental social media mediation strategies (active, restrictive) and direct cyberbullying. This research enhances our comprehension of parental strategies for managing their adolescents' online interactions. It offers theoretical frameworks for how parents might mitigate the adverse impacts of cyberbullying on their children.