The Longitudinal Effect of Cyberbullying Victimization on Sleep Quality Among College Freshmen: A Moderated Mediation Model

Previous research has established a correlation between cyberbullying victimization and sleep problems. However, the longitudinal effect of cyberbullying victimization on sleep quality among college freshmen and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, this study examined whether cyberbullying victimization predicts sleep quality in college freshmen after 6 months, and explored the longitudinal mediating role of basic psychological need frustration and the moderating role of parental autonomy support. A total of 740 freshmen were assessed at two time points over a six-month interval through self-reported questionnaires measuring cyberbullying victimization, basic psychological need frustration, parental autonomy support, and sleep quality. The results showed that cyberbullying victimization at Time 1 (T1) did not significantly predict sleep quality at Time 2 (T2). However, basic psychological need frustration at T2 mediated the relationship between cyberbullying victimization at T1 and sleep quality at T2. Furthermore, parental autonomy support at T1 moderated the first stage of the longitudinal mediating pathway. Specifically, when parental autonomy support at T1 was high, the effect of cyberbullying victimization at T1 on basic psychological need frustration at T2 was stronger. These findings reveal the mechanism through which cyberbullying victimization affects sleep quality over time and provide intervention guidance for improving freshmen's sleep quality.