Cyberbullying: Exploration Of Impact Of Loneliness And Prior Experience On Psychological Distress
This study explored the potential role of loneliness as a mediator in the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and perpetration and psychological distress in a sample of college-age students. It was also hypothesized that prior history of traditional bullying involvement in childhood would moderate the impact of loneliness as a mediator of the relationship between cyberbullying and loneliness. University of Mississippi students (n = 372), primarily females of European descent participated in an online survey. Participants completed measures assessing loneliness, cyberbullying involvement, psychological distress, and past traditional bullying involvement. Few participants reported a history of traditional bullying. As such, a mediation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between loneliness, cyberbullying involvement, and psychological distress. Results shothat loneliness did not mediate the relationship between cyberbullying involvement and psychological distress. Implications of the study are discussed.
College Students, Cyberbullying, Loneliness, Psychology
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