Cyberbullying in Higher Education: Unraveling Internalizing and Externalizing Behavioral Profiles and Social Support.

Abstract

Purpose: This study employs a person-centered approach to identify unique profiles of internalizing (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and externalizing (aggressive behaviors and substance use) behavioral problems among cyberbullied college students. Additionally, this study examines the impact of social support in internalizing and externalizing behavioral problem profiles.

Materials and methods: Data were collected from November 2022 to January 2023 from 175 college students across multiple U.S. universities using a cross-sectional design via web surveys.

Results: Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified a two-profile model, where one group showed higher internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems, while the other showed lower levels. Logistic regression analysis revealed that social support significantly predicts membership in the low behavioral problem profile.

Discussion: The findings reveal the co-occurrence of internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems of cyberbullied college students. Also, those students with robust social support are more likely to belong to the group with lower levels of internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems.

Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of targeted intervention strategies that consider students' behavioral problem profiles and emphasize social support as a protective factor.