Cyberbullying victimisation and psychological distress in university students: A digital crossfire

Background/Aims: Cyberbullying refers to the deliberate and repeated use of digital technologies to harass, threaten, humiliate or socially exclude individuals across platforms such as social networking sites, instant messaging applications, gaming environments, and digital forums. The global proliferation of internet access and social media has made cyberbullying a widespread phenomenon, particularly among undergraduate students. However, there is limited research on the relationship between cyberbullying and psychological distress. This study aimed to examine cyberbullying victimisation and psychological distress among undergraduate students, and to explore the predictive role of cyberbullying victimisation on psychological distress among those who had experienced it. Methodology: A quantitative survey design was used. A total of 422 undergraduate students who self-reported cyberbullying victimisation were included in the final sample. Results: Male students reported higher levels of cyberbullying victimisation than their female counterparts. No significant gender-based difference was found in psychological distress between male and female victims. Cyberbullying victimisation was identified as a statistically significant and meaningful predictor of psychological distress among the undergraduate students. Conclusions: These findings highlight the detrimental effects of cyberbullying victimisation on student mental health and underscore the need for targeted interventions to support affected students. Implications for practice: Universities should develop robust institutional policies and clear reporting mechanisms to address cyberbullying incidents in a timely, confidential and student-centred manner. The results are particularly relevant to mental health nursing, as nurses working in community, academic and primary care are increasingly well-placed to identify cyberbullying experiences and associated psychological distress among young people at an early stage. Therefore, mental health professionals, including nursing staff, should incorporate structured assessments into routine mental health evaluations to identify signs of distress.