CYBERBULLYING VICTIMIZATION AS A DETERMINANT OF SUICIDE RISK AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Cyberbullying is a significant mental health issue for university students, and may have implications for depression and suicidal outcomes. This study investigated the relationship between cyber victimization and suicidal risk among 500 students from the undergraduate level in Punjab, Pakistan with particular focus on depressive symptoms, perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness in the framework of Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of suicidality. The quantitative design used in the study was cross-sectional and the analytic tools used were descriptive statistics, reliability and validity, Pearson correlations, PLS-SEM, and bootstrapped mediation analysis. Results showed that depressive symptoms, perceived burdensomeness and suicide risk were positively correlated with cyberbullying victimization. The serial pathway (depression to perceived burdensomeness to physical well-being) was the most powerful explanatory pathway, while depression and perceived burdensomeness were significant mediators of these relationships. The results emphasize the need for holistic cyberbullying prevention and university mental-health interventions.