Cyberbullying and stress, anxiety, and depression among university students: social support and self-esteem as mediators
Document Type
Article
Source of Publication
New Review of Hypermedia and Multimedia
Publication Date
1-1-2025
Abstract
This study aimed to test the relationship between cyberbullying perpetration and victimisation and stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and social support, and to explore the roles of social support and self-esteem as mediators between these variables. This study was conducted from September 2019 to January 2020 using a descriptive correlational design. The sample involved university students (N = 780) from three universities in Amman Governorate, the capital of Jordan. The findings showed that the percentages of cyberbullying victimisation and perpetration among university students were 32.5%, and 22.67%, respectively. There was a significant positive relationship between cyberbullying perpetration and cyberbullying victimisation and stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. However, there was a significant negative relationship between cyberbullying perpetration and cyberbullying victimisation and social support. A negative relationship was found between cyberbullying perpetration and self-esteem among university students. Furthermore, social support and self-esteem played a mediating role in the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression; self-esteem had the most vital role. This study sheds light on self-esteem and social support as significant components in reducing the levels of bullying on cyberspace platforms.
DOI Link
ISSN
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Disciplines
Computer Sciences
Keywords
Anxiety, cyberbullying, depression, self-esteem, social support, stress
Scopus ID
Recommended Citation
Al-Amer, Rasmieh M.; Malak, Malakeh Z.; Shuhaiber, Ahmed H.; Aburoomi, Reham J.; and Darwish, Motasem, "Cyberbullying and stress, anxiety, and depression among university students: social support and self-esteem as mediators" (2025). All Works. 7202.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/7202
Indexed in Scopus
yes
Open Access
no