Cognitive Reappraisal as a Protective Factor in the Association between Cyber Intimate Partner Victimization and Depression in Hispanic Emerging Adults

Cyber intimate partner victimization (cyber IPV) has been associated with mental health problems. The present study hypothesized that cyber IPV types (i.e., psychological, sexual, stalking) uniquely affect depression symptoms in Hispanic emerging adults. In addition, cognitive reappraisal was hypothesized to moderate the unique effects of cyber IPV types on depression symptoms. Participants were 1,129 Hispanic, university-going emerging adults (M = 20.53, SD = 2.44; 72.5% female) in South Texas. Linear regression and moderation analyses were conducted to assess study aims. Psychological and sexual cyber IPV were uniquely associated with symptoms of depression but stalking cyber IPV was not. Victimization of these types of cyber IPV may cause an increase in depression symptoms. Cognitive reappraisal moderated the unique associations of both psychological and sexual cyber IPV with symptoms of depression, such that greater scores on cognitive reappraisal were associated with lower scores on depression symptoms among victims. Reappraising cognitions associated with the negative experience ensuing psychological or sexual cyber IPV may protect against depression symptoms. Findings call for development of culturally sensitive preventative and treatment programs for Hispanic IPV-survivors. Continual research should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal in treating depression symptoms affected by cyber IPV.