Psychological resilience as a shield: understanding employee life satisfaction in the face of cyberbullying in digital work environments

Abstract The rise of digitalization has significantly transformed workplace interactions, facilitating advancements in communication and collaboration while simultaneously introducing challenges, notably in the form of cyberbullying. Drawing on the transactional model of stress and coping as well as job demands–resources theory, the study investigates the impact of cyberbullying on life satisfaction among employees, with a particular emphasis on the mediating role of psychological resilience. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected from a sample of 388 white-collar employees through structured questionnaires between September and October 2024, allowing for a thorough examination of the connections between these factors. The findings reveal that increased exposure to cyberbullying correlates with diminished psychological resilience, which in turn adversely affects life satisfaction. This highlights the negative consequences of cyberbullying on psychological well-being. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that psychological resilience serves as a significant mediator between cyberbullying and life satisfaction, suggesting that individuals with higher resilience experience better life satisfaction despite the stressors associated with cyberbullying. The findings underscore the importance of developing organizational policies to combat cyberbullying, implementing workplace training programs, establishing clear digital-civility guidelines and reporting mechanisms, and fostering psychological resilience through education and resilience-building initiatives in order to enhance employee well-being and life satisfaction. The study highlights how crucial it is to combat cyberbullying for both individual well-being and the development of a positive workplace culture. By prioritizing the mental health and resilience of employees, organizations can create a more supportive work environment that promotes overall satisfaction and productivity.