Longitudinal Dynamics of Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Adolescents’ Health-Related Quality of Life Across Four Waves

Several cross-sectional studies have reported a negative association between bullying victimization and adolescents’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, few longitudinal studies have examined the prospective effects of traditional bullying (TB) and cyberbullying (CB) on HRQoL over time. The aim of this study was to analyze these relationships using a four-wave cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) in a sample of 695 adolescents aged 10 to 17 years (M = 12.45; SD = 1.83) from six primary and five secondary schools. The results revealed very high temporal stability for both TB and CB, with autoregressive coefficients exceeding 0.95. Importantly, only CB consistently predicted longitudinal decreases in HRQoL across waves, with the magnitude of the negative effects increasing over time, suggesting a cumulative impact on adolescent well-being. In contrast, TB showed negative concurrent associations with HRQoL but no prospective effects, indicating that its impact may be more immediate and situational rather than enduring. HRQoL itself showed moderate stability, highlighting its sensitivity to contextual influences during adolescence. These findings underscore the distinct roles of TB and CB in shaping adolescents’ health and well-being. Preventive interventions should prioritize reducing cyberbullying, given its cumulative and persistent effects, while early detection and timely responses remain critical for traditional bullying. Strengthening protective factors such as peer connectedness, school climate, and family–teacher collaboration may buffer adolescents against the detrimental impact of both forms of bullying on HRQoL.