When Cyberbullying Undermines Friendship: A Moderated Mediation Analysis of Self-Esteem and Life Satisfaction in Korean Adolescents

Abstract Korean adolescents report some of the lowest levels of life satisfaction among developed countries. Cyberbullying has emerged as a critical threat to their well-being. This study examined the association between self-esteem and life satisfaction among Korean adolescents, the mediating role of peer relationship quality in this relationship, and the moderating role of cyberbullying perpetration on the mediated effect. Using a nationally representative sample of 2,311 eighth-grade students from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey, participants completed validated measures of self-esteem, peer relationship quality, life satisfaction, and cyberbullying perpetration. Results indicated that higher self-esteem was associated with greater life satisfaction, and this relationship was partially mediated by positive peer relationships. However, the indirect effect of self-esteem on life satisfaction through peer relationships was moderated by cyberbullying perpetration. Specifically, as adolescents’ involvement in cyberbullying increased, the positive influence of peer relationships on life satisfaction weakened and became nonsignificant at high levels of cyberbullying. These findings highlight that while self-esteem and supportive peer relationships serve as protective factors for adolescent well-being, engagement in cyberbullying behaviors erodes these benefits. The study extends the social-ecological understanding of adolescent development by illustrating how digital behaviors disrupt the positive social pathways linking self-esteem and life satisfaction. Future longitudinal research should explore the temporal mechanisms underlying these relationships and inform culturally responsive prevention programs targeting self-esteem enhancement, peer support, and cyberbullying reduction among youth in collectivist contexts.