Digital Dilemma of Cyberbullying Victimization among High School Students: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Associations with Stress and Mental Well-Being

Cyberbullying has emerged as a pervasive problem among high school students, with
potentially severe consequences for their mental well-being. This study aimed to investigate the
prevalence, risk factors, and associations of cyberbullying with stress and mental well-being among
high school students in Zagazig, Egypt. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 562 high
school students using a random sampling technique. The data were collected using a self-administered
questionnaire that included the Cyberbullying Scale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and General
Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, multiple
regression, mediation, and logistic regression analyses were employed for data analysis. The prevalence
of cyberbullying victimization was 38.3%, with 20.6% exposed to two or three cyberbullying
behaviors and 4.1% exposed to four or more. Female students, those under 18 years old, those with
lower educational achievement, and those with higher daily internet use were more likely to experience
cyberbullying. Cyberbullied students reported significantly higher levels of perceived stress
and poorer mental well-being compared to non-cyberbullied students. Perceived stress likely mediated
the relationship between cyberbullying victimization and general psychological health.
Cyberbullying is a significant problem among high school students in Zagazig, Egypt, with detrimental
effects on their stress levels and mental well-being. Targeted interventions and prevention
strategies are needed to address cyberbullying and promote the well-being of adolescents in the
digital age.