The Perceptions of Cyberbullying Among Theology Faculty Students and Religion as a Coping Mechanism Against Cyberbullying

This study is a phenomenological investigation aimed at understanding university students' experiences of cyberbullying and how they use their religious beliefs as a coping strategy during this process. The participants were a total of 22 voluntary individuals, including 5 males and 17 females, who are victims of cyberbullying and study at the Theology Faculties in Turkey. The primary aim of the research is to examine the psychological and emotional effects of cyberbullying experiences on individuals and how religious beliefs and rituals serve as a source of spiritual support in this context. To achieve this, semi-structured interviews were employed to gather in-depth information about participants' experiences in the face of cyberbullying. The findings reveal that cyberbullying has various negative impacts on individuals, including panic, fear, stress, unhappiness, social isolation, and psychological trau-ma. Participants reported that these emotional challenges were a significant source of stress. However, some participants reported that they leveraged their experiences of cyberbullying as an opportunity for personal growth and empowerment. They expressed that they had become more resilient in the face of bullying and that the process had given them new perspectives. The study emphasizes the role of reli-gious beliefs and rituals as significant sources of spiritual support in coping with cyberbullying. A considerable proportion of participants stated that they felt strong-er by performing prayer, worship, and other religious practices. Prayer was perceived as a spiritual refuge and described as a source of inner peace in coping with difficul-ties. Rituals not only provided psychological relief for the participants but also proved effective source in coping with the stress and anxiety caused by bullying. Social support elements played a crucial role in the participants' coping processes with cyberbullying. Support from family, friends, and close acquaintances emerged as a critical factor in alleviating the negative effects of bullying. Participants noted that this support made them feel less alone and helped ease the psychological dis-tress of bullying. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of religious beliefs and spiritual coping strategies in responding to cyberbullying. The findings suggest that intervention programmess for cyberbullying victims should be designed with consideration for their religious and spiritual needs in mind. In addition, strengthening family and social support systems can be beneficial for victims. The findings illuminate how religious and social support mechanisms can be effective source in coping with cyberbullying, providing new insights for both academic litera-ture and practical applications.