English abstract
This descriptive correlational study aimed to explore the relationship between cyberbullying and social media addiction among students at the University of Nizwa in the Sultanate of Oman. The study sample consisted of 401 students selected through a convenience sampling method. To achieve the study’s objectives, a Cyberbullying Scale was developed to suit university students. This scale consisted of 28 items distributed across three dimensions: electronic anonymity, electronic harassment, and electronic defamation. Additionally, a Social Media Addiction Scale was used, comprising 18 items divided into three dimensions: salience and relapse, tolerance and conflict, and mood modification and withdrawal.
The results indicated that the level of cyberbullying among the study sample was low (1.8), while the level of social media addiction was moderate (2.83). Furthermore, the findings revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between cyberbullying and social media addiction among the study sample. The results also showed statistically significant differences in the level of cyberbullying based on gender, favoring males, and based on college affiliation, favoring students from the College of Sciences and Arts. However, no statistically significant differences were found in the level of cyberbullying based on educational qualification or academic year.
Regarding social media addiction, the results indicated statistically significant differences based on gender, favoring males, and based on college affiliation, favoring students from the College of Engineering. Conversely, no statistically significant differences were found in social media addiction levels based on educational qualification or academic year.
