Exploring the relationship between peer loneliness, problematic videogame use, and cyberbullying victimisation in adolescence

Abstract

Background: Adolescence, acknowledged as a transformative developmental phase marked by socio-emotional challenges, introduces an elevated susceptibility to loneliness. As adolescents are exposed to loneliness, they concurrently navigate the dynamic landscape of problematic videogame use, characterised by deleterious gaming patterns with consequential impacts across various life domains. Empirical evidence indicates a significant correlation between experiences of cyberbullying victimisation and heightened feelings of loneliness, particularly within the context of peer relationships during this developmental epoch.