Cyberbullying Victimization and Depression in International Students: The Role of Acculturative Stress

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the associations among cyberbullying victimization, acculturative stress, and depressive symptoms in international students. Specifically, the study assesses whether acculturative stress functions as a mediator in the pathway from cyberbullying to depression. The study sample consisted of 178 international undergraduates enrolled at a University in the northeastern region of the United States. The Cyberbullying and Online Aggression Instrument (COASI), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Short Form (CESD-SF) and Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (ASSIS) were employed to gather the study data. Findings revealed a significant positive correlation between cyberbullying victimization and both acculturative stress and depression. Moreover, the analysis demonstrated that acculturative stress serves as a partial mediator in the association between cyberbullying experiences and depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the intertwined influence of digital victimization and cultural adjustment challenges on psychological well-being. Consequently, higher education institutions should develop culturally responsive counseling services and preventive programs that simultaneously address online safety and acculturation processes to support this diverse student population.