Early adolescents who experienced cyberbullying were 4.65 times more likely to experiment with cannabis within the next year, alongside elevated risks for depression, suicidal behavior, and other substance use.
School counselors, pediatricians screening for cyberbullying, digital safety advocates, parents of pre-teens.
Cyberbullied 11-12 year olds were 4.65x more likely to experiment with cannabis within a year
What the researchers found
Cyberbullying victimization at ages 11-12 was prospectively associated with cannabis experimentation one year later (AOR 4.65, 95% CI 2.46-8.77), along with alcohol (AOR 1.98) and nicotine experimentation (AOR 3.37). Cyberbullying also predicted higher depressive, somatic, and attention problems, and 2.62x higher odds of suicidal behaviors.
Why it matters
This is one of the largest prospective studies to link cyberbullying with cannabis initiation in early adolescence. The finding that cyberbullying carries the strongest association with cannabis experimentation (compared to alcohol and nicotine) suggests cyberbullied youth may be particularly vulnerable to cannabis as a coping mechanism.
The numbers in context
n=9,799; 48.4% female; 45.1% non-White; 8.7% reported cyberbullying victimization; cannabis AOR 4.65; nicotine AOR 3.37; alcohol AOR 1.98; suicidal behaviors AOR 2.62; depressive problems beta=0.61; somatic problems beta=1.00.
How the study worked
Prospective cohort analysis of ABCD Study data (n=9,799 early adolescents aged 11-12), using logistic regression to examine associations between cyberbullying victimization at Year 2 and mental health and substance use outcomes at Year 3, adjusting for sociodemographics and baseline measures.
What this study cannot tell us
Self-reported cyberbullying and substance use may be subject to recall and social desirability bias. One-year follow-up is short to establish lasting patterns. Cannabis experimentation (any use) does not equal regular use or problematic use. Residual confounding from unmeasured variables.
How to read the evidence
Moderate: Large prospective cohort from the well-designed ABCD Study with proper temporal ordering, though self-reported measures and single-year follow-up limit conclusions.
When this study was published
Published in 2025 using ABCD Study data.
The bigger picture
As cyberbullying prevalence grows with increasing digital access, understanding its downstream effects on substance use is increasingly important. This study suggests that addressing cyberbullying could be an upstream intervention point for preventing early cannabis and other substance use.
Questions still open
- What mechanisms link cyberbullying to cannabis experimentation specifically? Do these associations persist into mid-adolescence and beyond? Would anti-cyberbullying interventions reduce downstream substance use?
Common questions
Why was the cannabis association stronger than alcohol or nicotine?
Does being cyberbullied cause substance use?
Read the original research
Cyberbullying, mental health, and substance use experimentation among early adolescents: a prospective cohort study.
Lancet regional health. Americas, 46, 101002
Citation
Nagata, Jason M; Shim, Joan; Balasubramanian, Priyadharshini; Leong, Alicia W; Smith-Russack, Zacariah; Shao, Iris Y; Al-Shoaibi, Abubakr A A; Helmer, Christiane K; Ganson, Kyle T; Testa, Alexander; Kiss, Orsolya; He, Jinbo; Groves, Allison K; Baird, Sarah; Baker, Fiona C. (2025). Cyberbullying, mental health, and substance use experimentation among early adolescents: a prospective cohort study.. Lancet regional health. Americas, 46, 101002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2025.101002
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