Cyberbullying and stress, anxiety, and depression among university students: social support and self-esteem as mediators

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.