Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Cyberbullying: Exploration Of Impact Of Loneliness And Prior Experience On Psychological Distress, Amy Marie Beel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the potential role of loneliness as a mediator in the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and perpetration and psychological distress in a sample of college-age students. It was also hypothesized that prior history of traditional bullying involvement in childhood would moderate the impact of loneliness as a mediator of the relationship between cyberbullying and loneliness. University of Mississippi students (n = 372), primarily females of European descent participated in an online survey. Participants completed measures assessing loneliness, cyberbullying involvement, psychological distress, and past traditional bullying involvement. Few participants reported a history of traditional bullying. As such, a mediation …