Coping Strategies and Psychological Wellbeing Among Undergraduate Students Affected by Cyberbullying: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Cyberbullying is an emerging concern among undergraduate students, potentially affecting their mental health and academic life. Understanding how students cope with such experiences is crucial for designing effective support systems. This study aimed to identify coping strategies employed by undergraduate students experiencing cyberbullying and to examine the association between these strategies and psychological well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 744 undergraduate students selected through multistage random sampling from colleges in Khammam city, Telangana, South India. Data were collected using validated instruments: The Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization Questionnaire, the Coping with Cyberbullying Questionnaire, and the Psychological Wellbeing Scale. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, and Chi-square tests assessed associations between cyberbullying status and psychological well-being subscales. Results: Among the participants, 40.3% reported being victims of cyberbullying and 25.5% admitted to perpetrating it; 32.3% were both victims and perpetrators. Technical coping strategies such as blocking or reporting perpetrators (mean = 20.52) and seeking close support from friends and family (mean = 17.94) were most frequently used, whereas retaliation was least common (mean = 15.03). No significant associations were found between experiences of cyberbullying or cybervictimization and any psychological well-being subscales (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Undergraduate students predominantly adopt practical coping strategies, notably technical measures and social support, when facing cyberbullying. The absence of a significant link between cyberbullying experiences and overall psychological well-being suggests that other factors, such as pre-existing mental health and social support, may play a more pivotal role. Strengthening institutional support systems and promoting healthy coping mechanisms remain essential to address the psychosocial impact of cyberbullying.