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Background <p>School bullying and information cocoon—characterized by algorithm-induced restricted exposure to diverse perspectives—are increasingly recognized as prominent risk factors for adolescent mental health. However, the interactive effects of these dual stressors on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and the potential buffering role of online social support remain inadequately explored within the Chinese sociocultural and digital context.</p> Methods <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,200 adolescents (12–18&#xa0;years old) from 10 middle and high schools in Northwest China. Validated scales were used to assess school bullying, information cocoon, online social support, and NSSI behaviors. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to empirically test the direct and moderating effects of the key variables.</p> Results <p>Both school bullying (β = 0.32, <i>p</i> &lt; <i>0.001</i>) and information cocoon (β = 0.24, <i>p</i> &lt; <i>0.01</i>) emerged as significant positive predictors of adolescent NSSI. Online social support not only exerted a direct protective effect against NSSI (β = -0.18, <i>p</i> &lt; <i>0.05</i>) but also significantly moderated the association between school bullying and NSSI (β = -0.25, <i>p</i> &lt; <i>0.001</i>). Notably, the moderating effect of online social support exhibited distinct gender-specific patterns.</p> Conclusions <p>Online social support serves as a critical protective factor for adolescent mental health, with particular efficacy in mitigating the adverse impacts of school bullying on NSSI. The development of targeted interventions that strengthen digital support networks and tailor to gender differences holds substantial promise for improving adolescent mental health outcomes in the digital era.</p>

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Digital shield of mental health: online social support’s dual roles in mitigating school bullying and information cocoon’s impacts on Chinese adolescents’ NSSI

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月9日

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  • Moye Xin,
  • Xiaoli Qiu,
  • Zhiwu He,
  • Liyan Liu,
  • Lijin Zhang,
  • Xueyan Yang

摘要

Background

School bullying and information cocoon—characterized by algorithm-induced restricted exposure to diverse perspectives—are increasingly recognized as prominent risk factors for adolescent mental health. However, the interactive effects of these dual stressors on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and the potential buffering role of online social support remain inadequately explored within the Chinese sociocultural and digital context.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,200 adolescents (12–18 years old) from 10 middle and high schools in Northwest China. Validated scales were used to assess school bullying, information cocoon, online social support, and NSSI behaviors. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to empirically test the direct and moderating effects of the key variables.

Results

Both school bullying (β = 0.32, p < 0.001) and information cocoon (β = 0.24, p < 0.01) emerged as significant positive predictors of adolescent NSSI. Online social support not only exerted a direct protective effect against NSSI (β = -0.18, p < 0.05) but also significantly moderated the association between school bullying and NSSI (β = -0.25, p < 0.001). Notably, the moderating effect of online social support exhibited distinct gender-specific patterns.

Conclusions

Online social support serves as a critical protective factor for adolescent mental health, with particular efficacy in mitigating the adverse impacts of school bullying on NSSI. The development of targeted interventions that strengthen digital support networks and tailor to gender differences holds substantial promise for improving adolescent mental health outcomes in the digital era.