The role of self-blame and resilience in psychosocial outcomes in college students who engage in cyberbullying

Bullying behaviors (traditional and cyber) are often associated with adverse long-term consequences. As a result of an increase in technology use, traditional bullying has gradually expanded to include cyberbullying. While research in the area of cyberbullying is relatively new, current evidence suggests that cyberbullying is a pervasive problem from childhood into adulthood, and is associated with long-term detrimental effects for bullies, victims, and bully-victims. Research also suggests that self-blame, the tendency to view life events as being within an individual’s control may exacerbate the development and intensity of psychological symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression) that may result from experiencing stressful events. (Feinauer & Stuart, 1996). Resiliency has been suggested as a buffer against the development of symptoms of anxiety and depression. Resiliency has been defined as a measure of stress coping ability that encompasses personal competence, trust in one’s instincts, positive acceptance of change, control, and spiritual influences (Conner & Davidson, 2003; Masten, 2001; Rutter, 2006). The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships among cyberbullying, self-blame, resilience, and psychological well-being in college students. Participants were 543 undergraduates from a public university in the southeastern United States. Participants included 155 males and 388 females ranging in age from 18 to 30 plus years. It was hypothesized that the experience of cyberbullying (X) would negatively predict psychosocial outcomes (Y) as mediated through level of self-blame (M). Additionally, given the rationale that resilience could potentially act as a protective factor against engaging in self-blame, it was hypothesized that (W) would serve as a moderator of the relationship between cyberbullying (X) and self-blame (M). Using “Model 7” by Hayes (2013), a moderated-mediation analysis was conducted. Contrary to predictions, the overall indirect of self-blame (M) in the analysis of psychosocial outcomes (Y) regressed on Cyberbullying (X)- by-Resilience (W) interaction was not significant. However, as expected, self-blame mediated the relationship between cyberbullying and psychosocial outcomes. Results and implications of findings are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. in Psychology

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Bailey, Jennifer Rose

Contributors dc:contributor

• Alan M. Gross
• Kathy Gustafson
• John N. Young

• College Students
• Cyberbullying
• Resilience
• Self-Blame
• Clinical Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/1523

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:egrove.olemiss.edu:etd-2522