Evaluating Problematic Social Media, Metacognitive Beliefs, and Cybervictimization in Depressed Adolescents with and...

Research has demonstrated the relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD) and cybervictimization, social media use, and dysfunctional metacognition in adolescents. Nevertheless, there is scarcity in adolescent studies focusing on the relationship between these factors and there is a gap in examining the role of these factors with a history of suicide attempt.

For the purpose of this study; 76 MDD patients without a history of suicide attempt, 75 MDD patients with a history of suicide attempt, and 84 controls were recruited. Data for the study were obtained using self-report DSM-5 Level 2 Depression Scale, Child Age 11-17 (DDS-II), Social Media Disorder Scale (SMDS), Metacognitions Questionnaire for Children (MCQ-C) ve Revised Cyberbullying Inventory-II (RCBI-II) scales.

Results demonstrated that problematic social media use, dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs, and cybervictimization were more prevalent in the MDD with a history of suicide attempt group. Furthermore, a binary logistic regression analysis identified the factors significantly associated with suicide attempts in MDD group. Accordingly, cybervictimization, and two factors of metacognitive beliefs including negative meta-worry and superstition, punishment and responsibility beliefs emerged as key determinants.

These findings suggest that cybervictimization and metacognitive beliefs may be considered an important factor that clinicians should pay attention when monitoring suicidality and treating MDD among adolescents. While the cross-sectional design of this study limits causal inferences, these findings suggest that addressing dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and cyber victimization may be an important component of the clinical management of adolescents with MDD who have a history of suicide attempts.