Victims of bullying and cyberbullying and emotional regulation difficulties in Ecuadorian adolescents. Structural regression analysis

The objective of this study was to identify the degree of influence of bullying and cyberbullying on emotional regulation difficulties (ERD) in a sample of adolescents from Ecuador. A descriptive, correlational, explanatory, and cross-sectional design using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques was used. The study included 384 adolescents (44% female and 56% male) between the ages of 14 and 19 (M = 15.7, SD = 4.4) and students from nine educational centers in two cities in Ecuador. The results reported that the presence of bullying or cyberbullying victimization is low, levels of ERD are moderate, and a lack of emotional clarity is the most affected factor. Bullying, cyberbullying, and ERD are positively correlated with each other, both slightly and moderately. Furthermore, bullying and cyberbullying explain 21.5% of the variance changes in ERD, making this model an adequate structural fit. It is concluded that bullying and cyberbullying are significant predictors of emotional regulation difficulties in Ecuadorian adolescents. This study provides an innovative approach by integrating both forms of victimization into a single explanatory model, something that has not been addressed in previous research in the region. At a practical level, the findings allow for updating the mapping of psychoemotional risks in school settings and guide the design of comprehensive preventive interventions in both educational and mental health settings.