Parental psychological control and cyberbullying among adolescents: the mediating roles of sleep quality and moral disengagement and the moderating role of grade.

Background: This study investigated how parental psychological control (PPC) influences adolescents' cyberbullying behaviors through the mediating roles of sleep quality and moral disengagement, as well as examined the moderating effect of grade level. Methods: In this study, a total of 688 students from 23 schools in one province were enrolled, and they have completed several psychological assessments including PPC, sleep quality, moral disengagement, and cyberbullying. A moderated chain mediation model was conducted to examine their relationships. Results: The finding revealed that PPC significantly positive associated with adolescents' engagement in cyberbullying. Mediation analyses demonstrated that both sleep quality and moral disengagement served as significant mediators in this relationship, and a sequential (chain) mediation effect was also observed. Furthermore, the effect of moral disengagement on cyberbullying was found to be moderated by grade level, and the relationship was stronger among highschoolers than pupils. Conclusion: These findings underscored the importance of parenting style, adolescent sleep health, and moral cognition in understanding and preventing cyberbullying, and suggested that effective intervention should address parental control strategies, promote healthy sleep habits, and enhance adolescents' moral reasoning to reduce cyberbullying and support healthy adolescent development.