INFLUENCE OF CYBERBULLYING ON MENTAL HEALTH AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between cyberbullying and the mental health of university students in Southeast Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the prevalence of cyberbullying among university students, identified the mental health issues experienced by victims, and explored ways students believe cyberbullying can be curtailed. The study was anchored on the tenets of Social Influence Theory. A survey research design was adopted, and a structured questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The sample size consisted of 400 university students selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The major findings revealed that 95% of the students were aware of the different forms of cyberbullying, including exclusion (94.0%), cyberstalking (96.0%), dissing (77.0%), and trolling (95.0%). The results also showed that victims experienced mental health issues such as panic disorders (94.0%), social phobia (93.0%), mood disorders (92.0%), and personality disorders (91.0%). Furthermore, the findings indicated that students believed that awareness campaigns (98.0%), seminars and workshops (94.0%), and the enforcement of laws (93.0%) are effective strategies for curbing cyberbullying. The correlation analysis yielded a coefficient (r) of 0.72, indicating a strong positive relationship between cyberbullying and mental health challenges among university students in Southeast Nigeria. The study concluded that cyberbullying has a significant positive relationship with mental health problems among university students. It recommended that university management should consistently educate students on the effects of cyberbullying, particularly its impact on mental health, in order to reduce its occurrence and associated risks.