Cybervictimization and eating disorders in university sample in Singapore: a moderated mediation model of deviant peer association and self-esteem.

BACKGROUND: Cyberbullying and eating disorders are growing public health concerns, particularly among young adults in university settings. The increasing reliance on digital platforms may exacerbate these issues, further impacting mental health. This study examines whether self-esteem mediates the relationship between cybervictimization and eating disorders and whether this mediation is moderated by deviant peer association. METHODS: Data were collected between August and December 2019 from 723 students (Mean age = 22.8, SD = 2.22) at a public university in Singapore. All participants were smartphone users, with 68.2% being female (n = 493), 31.8% being male (n = 230), 12.8% of non-Chinese ethnicity (n = 92), and 87.2% of Chinese ethnicity (n = 629). Statistical analyses, including chi-square, t-test, correlation, mediation, and moderated mediation, were conducted using SPSS 25.0 and Process Macro 4.3. RESULTS: When both cybervictimization and self-esteem were included in the model for eating disorders, cybervictimization was no longer significant, but self-esteem remained significant. The mediation analysis revealed that self-esteem significantly mediated the relationship between cybervictimization and eating disorders. Furthermore, the negative relationship between self-esteem and eating disorders was moderated by deviant peer association. The indirect effects of self-esteem in the cyberbullying-eating disorder relationship were significant across all levels of deviant peer association. The group with a higher deviant peer association (M + 1SD) exhibited the highest level of eating disorders, while those with a lower level of deviant peer association (M-1SD) were associated with lower eating disorder level, suggesting that self-esteem increases as the severity of eating disorder decreases. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the importance of self-esteem as a mediator between cybervictimization and eating disorders, with deviant peer association amplifying this relationship. These findings highlight the need for interventions that address cyberbullying, promote self-esteem, and reduce deviant peer influences to mitigate the risk of eating disorders among university students.