The Relationship Between Cybervictimization and Depression Among Women: The Mediating Roles of Rumination, Self-Esteem, and Social Support
Keywords:
Cybervictimization, Depression, Rumination, Self-Esteem, Social Support, WomenAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between cybervictimization and depression among women and to investigate the mediating roles of rumination, self-esteem, and perceived social support in explaining this association.
Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 612 adult women residing in Canada during 2025–2026. Participants were recruited through online platforms and community networks using voluntary participation procedures. Data were collected using the Cyber Victimization Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Ruminative Responses Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyses were performed using SPSS version 29. Structural equation modeling was conducted using AMOS version 29 to test the hypothesized mediation model. Model fit was evaluated using χ²/df, CFI, TLI, GFI, AGFI, RMSEA, and SRMR indices. Indirect effects were examined through bootstrap analysis with 5,000 resamples and 95% confidence intervals.
Findings: Cybervictimization demonstrated a significant positive association with depression (r = .54, p < .001) and rumination (r = .49, p < .001), while showing significant negative associations with self-esteem (r = −.46, p < .001) and social support (r = −.41, p < .001). The structural model exhibited excellent fit to the data (χ²/df = 2.41, CFI = .957, TLI = .951, GFI = .931, AGFI = .914, RMSEA = .048, SRMR = .041). Cybervictimization significantly predicted depression directly (β = .24, p < .001) and indirectly through rumination, self-esteem, and social support. Rumination emerged as the strongest mediator (indirect effect = .219, 95% CI [.167, .278]), followed by self-esteem (indirect effect = .128, 95% CI [.087, .176]) and social support (indirect effect = .068, 95% CI [.039, .103]). The total indirect effect was significant (β = .415, 95% CI [.351, .489]), indicating partial mediation.
Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that cybervictimization is a significant predictor of depressive symptoms among women and that this relationship operates through multiple psychological pathways. Rumination, self-esteem, and social support each contribute significantly to explaining how online victimization affects mental health, with rumination representing the most influential mechanism. Interventions targeting maladaptive cognitive processing, self-worth, and interpersonal support may help reduce the psychological burden associated with cybervictimization and improve mental health outcomes among women.
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