Cyber Victimization, Psychological Intimate Partner Violence, and Problematic Mental Health Outcomes Among First-Year College Students
Abstract
Both cyber victimization and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) have been associated with negative mental health outcomes among adolescents and young adults. The present study examined relations among cyber victimization, psychological IPV, and mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, antisocial behavior) among first-year college students. Consistent with polyvictimization theory, we hypothesized that cyber victimization and psychological IPV would be related to each other. We also hypothesized that each would uniquely contribute to depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior, after accounting for the other. Participants (N = 342, M age = 18.33 years; 50% male) completed questionnaires during a single lab visit. Results indicated that cyber victimization and psychological IPV were related to each other, and both contributed uniquely to depressive symptoms, but only cyber victimization contributed uniquely to antisocial behavior. Exploratory analyses indicated that experiencing both cyber victimization and psychological IPV was necessary for increased depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior. This study is the first to establish a unique relation between cyber victimization and mental health problems, after accounting for psychological IPV. The findings also suggest a need to consider multiple forms of victimization when considering relations between specific types of victimization and mental health problems.
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The perpetrator of cyberbullying is frequently the same individual involved in negative in-person interactions, especially in cyber-dating harassment.
“This heightened risk often stems from the fact that the perpetrator of cyberbullying is frequently the same individual involved in negative in-person interactions, especially in cases of cyber-dating harassment155,156.”
From Umbrella review of meta-analyses on the risk factors, protective factors, consequences and interventions of cyberbullying victimization (2024) · cites this paper as [156]
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- Authors
- Sargent, K. S., Krauss, A., Jouriles, E. N., & McDonald, R.
- Affiliations
- Southern Methodist University (US)
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.
- Venue
- Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-09
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 545-550
- ISSN
- 2152-2715 (ISSN-L)
- 2152-2723
- OpenAlex
- W2509716266
- Cited by
- 84
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 9.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Stalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Keywords
- cyber victimization, psychological intimate partner violence, polyvictimization, depressive symptoms, antisocial behavior, first-year college students, young adult mental health, online harassment
- MeSH terms
- Intimate Partner Violence, Adolescent, Adult, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Social Behavior Disorders, Crime Victims, Young Adult, Bullying
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