CYBERBULLYING AND ITS MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN JORDAN: THE MODERATING ROLE OF GENDER

Abstract

Globally, cyberbullying is a significant health issue as it increases individuals' stress levels and negatively impacts their psychological health. The prevalence of cyberbullying has been reported in the literature, yet limited information is available about cyberbullying in Jordan. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cyberbullying among adolescents in Jordan, its impact on their mental health, and the moderating role of gender in the relationship between cyberbullying and mental health guided by the Neuman Systems Model (NSM).A cross-sectional design and quota sampling were utilized in this study. A total of 400 students between ages 14-17 years (50% female, mean age 15.75 (±1.01)) from public schools in central and northern Jordan answered the cyberbullying, depression, anxiety, and loneliness measures. Data analysis was conducted through SPSS using descriptive statistics, binary logistics, and multiple regression to examine the associations between variables. Results indicate that 93.7% of participants have Internet access, 85.8% stated having 1-5 social media counts, and about 62.7% spend 1-7 hours using the Internet daily. About 72% reported being involved in cyberbullying, with slight differences between females and males. Out of those involved in cyberbullying, 30.8% were victims, followed by bully-victim 29.2%, then being bullied 12%. Cyberbullying was associated with an increased likelihood of exhibiting depression, anxiety, and loneliness (p .05). Our study findings elucidate the significance of cyberbullying and its mental health impacts among adolescents in Jordan regardless of gender and provide valuable insights with implications for nursing research, education, and practice.