From Screens to Minds: The Connection Between Cyberbullying, Psychological Well‐Being, and the Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support in High School Students

Abstract

Introduction: Bullying has become a growing concern among adolescents, particularly in the context of cyberbullying, where electronic devices are used to harass others. Understanding the distinct roles of cyberbullies and victims of cyberbullying in relation to various consequences on psychological well‐being is crucial. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the mediating role of perceived social support in explaining the relationship between cyberbullying and the psychological well‐being of secondary high school students.Method: This study employed a cross‐sectional design, in high school students (aged 15–18 years) in Isfahan city, Iran, in 2021. A stratified sampling method was used to select 1051 students. Data were collected through a checklist and three cyberbullying psychological well‐being and perceived social support questionnaires. Considering that the purpose of the study was to examine a set of dependency relationships, the data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Mplus, and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) softwares and the structural equation method was applied.Results: The results revealed a significant negative relationship between cyberbullying, psychological well‐being, and all its dimensions, except for autonomy and positive relationship with others. Conversely, a positive and significant relationship was observed between cyberbullying victims and psychological well‐being, except for purpose in life dimension. Additionally, there was a negative and significant relationship between cyberbullying, cyber victimization, and perceived social support, including its dimensions. Furthermore, perceived social support was found to mediate the relationship between cyberbullying and psychological well‐being significantly.Conclusion: The study highlights that high school students involved in cyberbullying and cyber victimization are susceptible to a decline in their psychological well‐being. Therefore, it is imperative for parents, teachers, and education officials to understand the role of social support to mitigate the negative impacts of cyberbullying in adolescents.