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Psychological Security, Psychological Loneliness, and Age as the Predictors of Cyber-Bullying Among University Students

Community Mental Health Journal volume 56, pages 393–403 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the relationship between cyber-bullying and psychological security, psychological loneliness, and age. In other words, it sought to identify the predictive power of these three variables on cyber-bullying among university students. Participants were 426 male and female Saudi university students aged between 18 and 36 years (M = 21.00, SD = 2.42). Three scales were used to probe cyber-bullying and psychological security and loneliness. Data analysis revealed that 17.6% of the participants were cyber-bullies. Significant differences in cyber-bullying were found by gender (in favor of males). A significant positive correlation was found between cyber-bullying on one hand and psychological security and loneliness and age on the other. The findings also revealed that cyber-bullying among university students can be predicted by psychological loneliness and age. Psychological loneliness is the best predictor of cyber-bullying. It explained .284 of cyber-bullying, while age, psychological loneliness explained .339 of cyber-bullying. These findings shed more light on the psychological aspects included in cyber-bullying. It is a significant contribution in that it identified the motives beyond cyber-bullying and its adverse effects on individuals.

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this work through Research Group No. RG-1438-064.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammad Farhan Al Qudah, Elsayed Mohammed Abu Hashem Hassan, Ismael Salamah Albursan & Mohammed Ateik Al-Khadher

  2. The Research Council, Sultanate of Oman, Seeb, Oman

    Hafidha Sulaiman Al-Barashdi

  3. Department Education & Psychology, Princess Alia College, Al Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan

    Mustafa Qseem Heilat

  4. Department of Special Education, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Salaheldin Farah Attallah Bakhiet

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  1. Mohammad Farhan Al Qudah
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  2. Hafidha Sulaiman Al-Barashdi
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  3. Elsayed Mohammed Abu Hashem Hassan
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Correspondence to Salaheldin Farah Attallah Bakhiet.

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Al Qudah, M.F., Al-Barashdi, H.S., Hassan, E.M.A.H. et al. Psychological Security, Psychological Loneliness, and Age as the Predictors of Cyber-Bullying Among University Students. Community Ment Health J 56, 393–403 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00455-z

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Keywords

  • Cyber-bullying
  • Psychological security
  • Psychological loneliness
  • Frequency
  • Age
  • University students