International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

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Relationship of Cyberbullying and Mental Health in Malaysian Society

Open access

Norazlinda Mohammad, Norena Abd Karim Zamri, Mastura Roni, Siti Nur Izyandiyana Ab Hadi, Aidah Alias

Pages 395-408 Received: 01 Apr, 2023 Revised: 04 May, 2023 Published Online: 07 Jun, 2023

http://dx.doi.org/10.46886/IJARBSS/v13-i6/8873
Due to the negative psychosocial repercussions as well as the challenges brought on by irresponsible use of technology, researchers and society have increased their attention on cyberbullying. In relation to this, online media has been reported to be linked with cyberbullying and mental health, nevertheless, the links remain unclear. Thus, this present study aimed to contribute to providing a framework that predicts cyberbullying factors that lead to mental health issues. Using the convenience sampling method, 154 questionnaires were collected from Malaysian respondents as part of the study's quantitative research approach. The data were analyzed through the Structured Equation Modeling (SEM) technique using Smart PLS version 3.2.8 to investigate the predictive capacity of cyberbullying antecedents (Cyberbullying Experience, Self-Esteem, and Social Connectedness) towards cyberbullying experience. The findings demonstrated a strong correlation between cyberbullying and an increase in mental health issues in Malaysian society. The study also confirmed that there is a strong link between social contagion theory and cyberbullying. The importance of this research will raise Malaysians' awareness by encouraging moral behavior when using social media and policing instances of cyberbullying.
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