Predictive Role of Cyberbullying and Victimization on General Psychological Distress among PhD Students

Babita Vishwakarma; Pushpa Kumari; Amit Kumar Vishwakarma

doi:10.48165/IJEE.2025.61303

Authors

Babita Vishwakarma Banaras Hindu University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3816-1876
Pushpa Kumari Banaras Hindu University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0581-3142
Amit Kumar Vishwakarma Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8335-1604

https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2025.61303

Keywords:

Online Aggression, Psychological Distress, PhD Students, , Hierarchical Regression, Mental Health, Higher Education

Abstract

The study examines the predictive impact of cyberbullying and cyber victimization on general psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression) among PhD students. A total of 250 doctoral participants in 2025 (male = 122, female = 128, age mean = 28.02, standard deviation = 2.66) from Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University were assessed. A self-prepared demographic survey, Cyber-Bullying and Cyber-Victimization Experience Questionnaire (CBVEQ-E a = .89) and depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 (DASS-21 a = .89) were used for the purpose. Hierarchical stepwise regression analysis was employed and revealed that cyberbullying significantly positively predicted higher levels of stress (b = 0.236, p < .001), anxiety (b = 0.261, p < .001), depression (b = 0.260, p < .001), explaining 5 to 6.3% of the variance in individual general psychological distress dimensions. Cyberbullying also emerged as a significant predictor of general psychological distress (b = 0.280, p < .001), contributing 7.1% of the variance. These findings underscore the adverse effects of cyberbullying on the mental health of doctoral students due to high-pressure academic environments. The study emphasizes the need for mental health interventions, institutional support systems, and anti-bullying policies to mitigate the negative impact of cyberbullying in academic settings.

Author Biographies

Babita Vishwakarma, Banaras Hindu University

Research Scholar, Department of Home Science (Extension and Communication), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
Pushpa Kumari, Banaras Hindu University

Associate Professor, Department of Home Science (Extension and Communication), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
Amit Kumar Vishwakarma, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Government Model Degree College, Pawanikala, Sonbhadra-231213, Uttar Pradesh, India

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