Psychosocial Determinants of Cyberbullying Perpetration Among University Students

Abstract

This research investigate the intricate interplay of psychosocial determinants underlying the perpetration of cyberbullying with the predictive roles of Machiavellianism, perceived social support, and problematic internet use within this context. The study employs a comprehensive framework to examine the serial mediation effect of perceived social support and problematic internet use in the relationship between Machiavellianism and cyberbullying perpetration. Drawing upon the purposive sample of 433 university students aged 18 to 25 years (M = 21.17, SD = 1.89), measures of Machiavellianism Subscale of the Short Dark Triad (Jones & Paulhus, 2014), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988), the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (Thatcher & Goolman, 2005), and the Cyberbullying Perpetration Scale (Lee et al., 2017) were used to assess study variables. The findings reveal that Machiavellianism and problematic internet use positively predicted cyberbullying perpetration; whereas perceived social support negatively predicted cyberbullying perpetration. The study also illuminates the serial mediating role of perceived social support and problematic internet use in the intricate relationship between Machiavellianism and cyberbullying perpetration. Significant group differences were also found on gender, family system, residential status and parental education of university students. Practical implications arising from these insights suggest the importance of targeted interventions aimed at reducing cyberbullying behaviors, focusing on addressing both individual traits and contextual factors. As technology continues to shape social interactions, this research emphasizes the need for ongoing efforts to mitigate the adverse consequences of cyberbullying in an ever-evolving digital landscape.