Beyond homogeneity: celebrity worship types and perceived stress as key roles in the relationship between smartphone addiction and cyberbullying among young women.

BACKGROUND

The rapid proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has given rise to increasingly sophisticated forms of cyberbullying, with expanding penetration scope and escalating severity of harm. Despite well-documented gender differences in cyberbullying involvement, the underlying mechanisms among young female adults remain insufficiently understood.

METHODS

The present study examined the relationship between smartphone addiction and cyberbullying penetration among young female adults, investigating the mediating role of celebrity worship (Entertainment-Social, Intense-Personal, and Borderline Pathological dimensions) and the moderating role of perceived stress. A moderated mediation model was proposed and empirically tested using survey data from 524 female undergraduate students in eastern China.

RESULTS

Results indicated that smartphone addiction was positively associated with cyberbullying penetration both directly and indirectly. Specifically, the direct effect of smartphone addiction on cyberbullying penetration was significant only when Entertainment-Social worship served as the mediator. Intense-Personal worship and Borderline Pathological worship significantly mediated the smartphone addiction-cyberbullying penetration relationship, whereas Entertainment-Social worship did not. Furthermore, perceived stress significantly moderated the association between Borderline Pathological worship and cyberbullying penetration, but did not moderate the pathways involving Entertainment-Social or Intense-Personal worship.

DISCUSSION: The findings contribute to the growing literature on the adverse behavioral consequences of smartphone addiction, particularly its association with increased cyberbullying involvement. Moreover, this study advances understanding of the gendered mechanisms underlying cyberbullying by focusing on young women. We also highlight the complex, multi-determined nature of cyberbullying and reinforce the necessity of examining both risk and protective factors within integrated theoretical frameworks that account for individual, relational, and contextual influences.