In an era where digital communication defines much of our social interaction, cyberbullying has emerged as a pressing global concern impacting millions, particularly adolescents and young adults. The psychological consequences of such online harassment range from anxiety and depression to, in severe cases, suicidal ideation. While much attention has rightfully been directed toward understanding victims and perpetrators, there exists a critical intermediary factor—the defenders. The recent study led by Chen, Fang, Wang, and colleagues, published in BMC Psychology in 2025, offers a groundbreaking exploration into the psychological mechanisms that empower individuals to intervene and defend victims in cyberbullying situations.
The research pivots on the concept of defending self-efficacy, a psychological construct denoting an individual’s belief in their capability to successfully defend or protect victims of cyberbullying. Grounded in Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, self-efficacy profoundly influences human motivation, behavior, and emotional responses. Defending self-efficacy, therefore, impacts whether bystanders who witness cyberbullying choose to act and how effective their interventions are. Chen and colleagues move beyond correlational studies by proposing a moderated mediation model, which offers a nuanced understanding of how defending self-efficacy translates into concrete defending behaviors, and under what contextual conditions these actions are most likely to occur.
At the heart of the study is the recognition that cyberbullying environments are complex, shaped by individual psychological traits and the social milieu. The researchers hypothesized that defending self-efficacy positively predicts defending behavior, meaning that individuals confident in their defending skills are more likely to step in. However, this relationship is not linear and can be influenced by mediating factors, such as moral disengagement—the psychological process by which individuals rationalize unethical behavior to avoid self-censure—and moderated by external social factors like peer norms and perceived social support.
The research team employed a robust methodological framework, sampling a diverse group of adolescents aged 13 to 19 from multiple educational institutions, an age group particularly vulnerable to cyberbullying exposure. Using validated psychometric scales, participants were assessed for their levels of defending self-efficacy, frequency and type of defending behaviors exhibited in online scenarios, moral disengagement tendencies, and perceived social norms regarding intervention in cyberbullying. Advanced statistical modeling, including moderated mediation analysis, allowed the team to unravel interdependencies among these variables, shedding light on the dynamic psychological processes at play.
Findings from the study confirmed that defending self-efficacy serves as a critical predictor of defending behavior, affirming that individuals’ belief in their capacity to act effectively directly influences whether they take a stand against cyberbullying. More intriguingly, moral disengagement emerged as a significant mediator. Those more prone to moral disengagement were less likely to translate defending self-efficacy into actual behavior, essentially experiencing a psychological barrier that inhibits action despite confidence and willingness.
Moreover, the social context plays a decisive role as a moderator. Supportive peer norms and environments that encourage anti-bullying behavior amplified the positive effect of defending self-efficacy on defending actions, while environments characterized by apathy or tacit approval of bullying weakened this link. This element of the study emphasizes the multifaceted nature of cyberbullying intervention, underscoring that individual psychological readiness must be nurtured alongside supportive social frameworks to enhance bystander defense behaviors.
Chen and colleagues’ work contributes vital insights to the psychological literature on cyberbullying, filling a gap regarding the factors that enable proactive defense rather than passive observation or avoidance. It advances the theoretical understanding of defending behaviors by integrating social cognitive theory with mechanisms of moral cognition and social influence, providing a comprehensive model that captures the complexity of human behavior in cyberbullying contexts.
From a practical standpoint, these findings have far-reaching implications for interventions aimed at reducing cyberbullying. Programs designed to bolster defending self-efficacy should incorporate components that challenge moral disengagement mechanisms, such as promoting empathy, moral reflection, and awareness of the impact of cyberbullying. Additionally, cultivating anti-bullying peer cultures is essential to create an environment conducive to defending behaviors. The study suggests that effective anti-cyberbullying initiatives require a dual focus on individual psychological empowerment and social contextual change.
The moderated mediation model proposed in this research also opens avenues for future studies to examine other potential mediators and moderators in the defending process. For instance, emotional factors like empathy and fear of retaliation, or broader systemic influences such as school policies and digital platform regulations, could interact with self-efficacy in complex ways to shape defending behaviors. Understanding these dynamics is crucial in designing tailored interventions that resonate across diverse populations and cultural settings.
Furthermore, the research methodology employed reflects an innovative intersection of quantitative rigor with psychological theory, utilizing state-of-the-art statistical techniques. This approach moves the field beyond simplistic cause-and-effect conclusions, instead embracing the nonlinear, conditional, and multi-layered reality of human social behavior online. The insight that defending self-efficacy alone is insufficient without addressing moral cognition and social environment nuances is a pivotal message for educators, policymakers, and mental health professionals alike.
In light of the escalating prevalence of cyberbullying and its detrimental effects on mental health, the significance of fostering empowered defenders cannot be overstated. Chen et al.’s contribution thus represents a vital step towards equipping young people with the psychological tools and supportive environments necessary to combat bullying effectively. Their findings highlight a crucial paradox: the fight against cyberbullying depends not just on reducing victimization or punishing bullies, but on activating the moral courage and efficacy of bystanders.
This research also resonates with broader societal dynamics where digital interaction blurs traditional social boundaries, challenging individuals to navigate complex ethical and social landscapes. As virtual spaces become increasingly central to social life, the question of how to inspire constructive, empathetic intervention in the face of injustice assumes new urgency. By illuminating the psychological underpinnings driving defenders, this study lays groundwork for interventions that align technological realities with human values.
In conclusion, Chen, Fang, Wang, and their team deliver an incisive and timely contribution to the cyberbullying literature, offering a sophisticated model that captures the interplay between self-efficacy, moral cognition, and social context. Their work not only enhances academic understanding but holds tangible promise for shaping educational policy, digital platform governance, and mental health initiatives focused on creating safer, more supportive online communities.
The study invites ongoing discourse and investigation, encouraging stakeholders at multiple levels—schools, families, social media companies, and governments—to consider comprehensive strategies that nurture psychological readiness and ethical responsibility among digital natives. As cyberbullying continues to evolve, our approaches to countering it must be equally adaptive and scientifically informed, blending individual empowerment with collective cultural change. This research sets a high standard for such endeavors.
Subject of Research: Psychological mechanisms underlying defending behavior in cyberbullying, focusing on defending self-efficacy and its interaction with moral disengagement and social context.
Article Title: The relationship between defending self-efficacy and defending behavior in cyberbullying: a moderated mediation model.
Article References:
Chen, H., Fang, Y., Wang, L. et al. The relationship between defending self-efficacy and defending behavior in cyberbullying: a moderated mediation model. BMC Psychol 13, 426 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02758-1
Image Credits: AI Generated
