Online Harassment and Cyberbullying Victimization and Its Emotional Impacts among Female Nursing and Non-Nursing Students

Background: The increasing internet utilization is associated with various disadvantages. Online cyberbullying and harassment victimization is one of these disadvantages that pose negative emotional consequences. Aim: This study aimed to detect the prevalence of online cyberbullying and harassment victimization amongst nursing students from El-Fayoum University in comparison to students from other faculties at the same university. In addition to figuring out the most significant correlates of victimization and its emotional consequences. Subjects and methods: A total of 308 female nursing students and 320 female non-nursing students from El-Fayoum University participated in this cross-sectional survey. For data collection, §N self-administered questionnaire was designed and distributed. The questionnaire included 3 sections; personal characters of the included students, online cyberbullying and harassment victimization during the past year, and the emotional consequences of victimization. Results: Of the surveyed female university students, 84 (27.3%) of the nursing students and 88 (27.5%) of the non-nursing students stated online harassment victimization during the past year, with no statistically significant differences between both groups (§²>0.05). Almost two-thirds of the victimized students from nursing and non-nursing faculties reported online harassment, victimization more than once with no statistically significant differences between both groups (§²>0.05). Urban residence and more hours of internet use per day did not correlate with the prevalence of online harassment victimization (§²>0.05) but associated with frequent exposure (§²<0.05). Anger (74.4%) was the most commonly reported emotional impact of online harassment victimization. Hatred, fear, sorrow, loneliness, and disappointment came next, however, with considerably lower rates. Conclusion: Female university students from nursing and non-nursing faculties were exposed to online cyberbullying and harassment victimization in recognizable rates. Recommendations: Further studies on the coping techniques to online harassment victimization should be conducted. Interventional programs to increase awareness regarding the windows of interference against online harassment according to the Egyptian Penal Code to reduce such intrusions and minimize their emotional effects should be considered.