Cyberbullying and its Impact on Mental Health among Female University Students in Sindh, Pakistan: A Case Study

This case study aimed to investigate the prevalence and impact of cyberbullying on the mental health of female university students in Sindh, Pakistan. The study used Social Dominance Theory (SDT) and Routine Activities Theory (RAT) to interpret the psychological consequences of cyberbullying, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. The assessment of cyberbullying was conducted through a self-administered survey questionnaire comprising 20 items. The internal consistency of all items within the scale exhibited robust reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.859). A total of one hundred and eighty-two (182) female students actively participated in the research, engaging with the survey deployed on the Google Forms platform from April 12th, 2023, to September 27th, 2023. Of the participating individuals, 40.6% (74 respondents) indicated they had not encountered cyberbullying in recent months. In contrast, 59.34% (108 participants) reported experiencing cyberbullying incidents. The responses of the latter group were meticulously employed for the conclusive statistical analyses of this study. The outcomes significantly underscore an alarming escalation in the prevalence of cyberbullying within the female student population of Pakistan. Moreover, a noteworthy revelation emerged, wherein 47.2% of the respondents disclosed that they had opted for no action in response to the cyberbullying episodes they had encountered. In contrast, 17.6% acknowledged resorting to confiding in their parents after being subjected to online harassment. These outcomes emphasize the critical necessity for targeted interventions to mitigate the far-reaching implications of cyberbullying and its detrimental psychological repercussions on female students. The findings point to the pressing requirement for educational institutions and policymakers to address the rising tide of cyber victimization in Pakistan. In contrast, 59.34% (108 participants) reported experiencing cyberbullying incidents. The responses of the latter group were meticulously employed for the conclusive statistical analyses of this study. The outcomes significantly underscore an alarming escalation in the prevalence of cyberbullying within the female student population of Pakistan. Moreover, a noteworthy revelation emerged, wherein 47.2% of the respondents disclosed that they had opted for no action in response to the cyberbullying episodes they had encountered. In contrast, 17.6% acknowledged resorting to confiding in their parents after being subjected to online harassment. These outcomes starkly emphasize the critical necessity for targeted interventions to mitigate the far-reaching implications of cyberbullying and its detrimental psychological repercussions on female students.